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Community Update 13Community Update 13
May 2008
Keep up-to-date with community Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) initiatives.
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) and other organisations actively engage with the community to encourage the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). QUM advocates selecting management options wisely, choosing suitable medicines if they are considered necessary, and using medicines safely and effectively. QUM is a central objective of Australia's National Medicines Policy.
If you would like to reproduce Community Update information and articles please contact us.
In this issue
News
- Diversity in Health 2008 — The MCQUM Program is showcased
- Profile: Faces in the Community — Dr Parisa Aslani, Community Pharmacist
Upcoming events
- National Medicines Symposium — last chance to register to attend! May 14–16, Canberra
- 2008 Common colds need common sense campaign: May launch
Latest NPS publications
Free information
News
Diversity in Health 2008 — The MCQUM Program is showcased
NPS works in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) to implement the Multicultural Community Quality Use of Medicine (MCQUM) Program. This program was showcased recently at the Diversity in Health Conference.
Historically, NPS has an established relationship with many health professionals and health professional organisations but many other community organisations are still unfamiliar with NPS. The Diversity in Health Conference was an important opportunity for a broader range of organisations to connect.
In 2008, there were approximately 950 delegates at Diversity in Health, a combination of health professionals across a range of specialties, community organisations and advocates, government representatives, carers and consumers. NPS and FECCA met many of the various delegates and stallholders. The exchange of information with these groups, and others, at Diversity in Health will be used to assist with the development of future communication strategies and information resources.
Anita Maberly from NPS and Corinne Dobson from FECCA presented a paper detailing some of the outcomes of the Families get to know their medicines pilot program. Their paper focused on the challenges surrounding participatory approaches to health promotion among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
To receive a copy of the paper, contact us.
Profile: Faces in the Community — Dr Parisa Aslani, Community Pharmacist
This is the second article in a series profiling members of the Community Quality Use of Medicines (CQUM) Working Group. The Working Group comprises health professionals, consumers, government and health promotion representatives and provides strategic advice on reaching consumers effectively through QUM programs and messages.
Parisa leads a team of national and international experts, including an advisory panel of key stakeholders who aim to develop and evaluate viable alternative CMI formats to ensure optimal effectiveness and best practice delivery in community pharmacies.
'I believe that when a patient collects a prescription medicine or purchases an over-the-counter product from a pharmacy, they should leave that pharmacy knowing how to take their medicines appropriately, and what to do if any adverse effects occur, as well as be able to monitor the impact of their medicines. This is the first step to quality use of medicines', she says.Parisa also teaches pharmacy students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the areas of medicine information and communication. 'The key to patient education is a health professional who can effectively communicate information about medicines to their patients.'
Parisa’s research has also looked at information about medicines for Vietnamese and Arabic-speaking Australians.
Upcoming events
National Medicines Symposium — last chance to register to attend! May 14–16, Canberra
Do you want to shape medicines use policy? Do you have concerns about how medicines may be affecting people you deal with regularly? With more than 480 delegates attending from 11 countries, the National Medicines Symposium is your chance to get in front of leaders in Quality Use of Medicines to share your insights and learn about the latest practices.
With local and international speakers, the program includes: Medicines use in the ageing world; Trends and challenges for medicines, consumers and society; Medicines use and the political economy; and a comparison between the Canadian and Australian experiences.
The 2008 National Medicines Symposium is your chance to learn and develop new health industry contacts. Registrations close in May.
2008 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics campaign: May launch!
NPS is now gearing up for its annual Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics health campaign. This year’s campaign will run in two phases. Phase 1 will launch in late May and focus on common sense hygiene messages, while Phase 2 will launch in August and will focus on common sense treatments, including antibiotics messages (August is a peak month for antibiotic prescriptions).
Help us spread the word and prevent unnecessary antibiotics use by sharing the NPS “common colds” information with your contacts when it becomes available. NPS is aiming to reach the parents of young children, childcare centre staff, school communities (to reach parents of primary school aged children) and women aged 18–34, who have been observed to have less desirable attitudes to using antibiotics for colds. To take the messages into workplaces, NPS will partner with Ross and Julia Ross recruitment services.
NPS is currently updating recommendations for over-the-counter medicines and complementary medicines in the treatment of colds.
The 2008 Common colds need common sense, not antibiotics web page will soon be live: check the NPS common colds website for updates.
Latest NPS publications
MedicinesTalk — articles to use in your newsletters
Did you know that you can use MedicinesTalk articles in your newsletters?
Simply reproduce the article in full and include acknowledgment of NPS and the relevant issue date: e.g. 'Reproduced with permission, National Prescribing Service, MedicinesTalk <issue month and year>'.
The Autumn issue of MedicinesTalk is now available. In the latest issue are:
- Ways to reduce your spending on medicines without compromising your health
- Authority prescriptions explained
- How to minimise your risk of interactions when using prescription and over-the-counter medicines including vitamins, herbal and natural medicines
- Reliable sources of information about new medicines.
Read the latest edition and find back issues on the MedicinesTalk web page. You can opt in to receive hard copies of future issues of MedicinesTalk and other free NPS information by visiting the NPS online catalogue.
Medicine Update — explains new medicines
The latest consumer publication from NPS, Medicine Update, provides information for people who are considering a new medicine, or have had a medicine suggested or prescribed for them and want to know more about it. It covers new medicines and medicines recently listed on the PBS.
When medicines are new, less is known about their expected benefits and possible harms than for medicines that have been available for some time. Medicine Update provides the evidence available to help people decide if a new medicine is right for them.
The topic of the April 2008 issue is strontium ranelate (Protos) for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In January 2008, topics included:
- Varenicline (Champix) for quitting smoking
- Fluticasone with salmeterol (Seretide) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Alendronate (Fosamax) for osteoporosis for preventing fractures in people with very fragile bones (low bone mineral density).
Your support in making Medicine Update available to the public will help create greater awareness of the quality use of medicines. You could post a PDF version on your website and mention it in your newsletter. Medicine Update is currently only available online. However, if you would like a limited print run, we are happy to discuss your requirements.
For a copy of the current editions, or to register to receive a copy, go to the Medicine Update web page.
Free information
View a summary of resources and NPS order now
NPS has many other free resources for use by community groups and health professionals.
To view and order NPS's extensive range of medicines information resources, go to NPS website catalogue.
Follow these links to subscribe or unsubscribe from Community Update.
National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines. We provide accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to help people choose if, when and how to use medicines to improve their health and wellbeing. We are member-based and work in partnership with health professionals, government, pharmaceutical industry and consumers. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Date published: 2008-05-01 00:00:00
Reasonable care is taken to provide accurate information at the date of creation. This information is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified health professional. Health professionals should rely on their own expertise and enquiries when providing medical advice or treatment. Where permitted by law, NPS disclaims all liability (including for negligence) for any loss, damage or injury resulting from reliance on or use of this information. Read our full disclaimer.
References to brands should not be taken as an endorsement by NPS.
