Accurate, balanced evidence-based information about medicines
Community Update 24 Community Update 24
Welcome to the latest issue of Community Update, provided by the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS). Community Update helps keep you informed about issues around medicines use as they relate to individuals and the community.
In this issue
- New resources for Arabic speakers
- Education seminars for Chinese, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and Arabic-speaking seniors
- Review of medicines for hip and knee replacements
- Trying to quit smoking?
- Women warned aspirin reports may be misleading
- Health Minutes videos
- Lively radio interviews with Dr John D’Arcy
New resources for Arabic speakers
Australia’s growing population of Arabic speakers now have access to translated Medimate brochures and Medicines Lists to help them manage and understand their medicines.
The Medimate brochure contains information about prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines and natural and herbal medicines. It includes advice about how to usemedicines safely, managing multiple medicines and keeping healthy with and without medicines. It also includes space to makes notes when visiting your GP or pharmacist, or to write down questions you might have about your medicines.
This brochure was first published by NPS in English in 2004 and, in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), has been translated into 7 other languages: Chinese, Greek, Italian, Vietnamese, Macedonian, Croatian and Arabic.
The NPS Medicines List is where you can record all the medicines you are taking – including those bought in a pharmacy and natural / herbal products – and vital information about each one. This includes the active ingredient and brand names, and when and how you need to take it. Medicines Lists are also available in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese, Italian, Greek and Vietnamese.
Download Arabic Medimate and Arabic Medicines List from the NPS website or order your free copies here.
Education seminars for Chinese, Italian, Greek, Vietnamese and Arabic-speaking seniors
More than 150 workshops will be held across Australia over the next three months to help seniors from non-English speaking backgrounds understand medicines use issues.
The workshops will be run in 6 different languages: Cantonese, Mandarin, Greek, Italian, Arabic and Vietnamese. They have been funded by NPS in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA) and are being organised by ethno-specific organisations in every state and territory.
The workshops will cover two specific topics:
- Safe and wise use of medicines
- Sleep and ageing
The Safe and wise use of medicines seminar builds on the knowledge gained from a highly successful workshop series run in 2008. The Sleep and ageing workshop explains normal sleep patterns, good sleep practices and information about sleep medicines.
For more information about which organisations are hosting seminars in which states click here.
For enquiries about the seminars please email us.
Review of medicines for hip and knee replacements
More than 70,000 Australians undergo hip and knee replacements every year, and need anticoagulant medicines for up to a month after surgery to prevent serious blood clots from forming. While previously these were in the form of a daily injection, tablet medicines are now sometimes an option.To help people understand these medicines and how to use them safely, the latest edition of NPS Medicine Update provides independent reviews of the oral medicines dabigatran (Pradaxa) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto), listed on the PBS for preventing blood clots after hip or knee replacement surgery.
Read the full reviews in the latest issue of Medicine Update.
Trying to quit smoking?
Approximately two-thirds of Australia’s 4 million smokers are currently considering quitting smoking, but some people need a little extra support to maintain a cessation program and quit for good.
NPS is working with doctors and pharmacists to help them identify people who may be ready to quit smoking – especially those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – and develop effective, tailored smoking cessation programs for them.
‘Smoking is the largest single preventable cause of death and disease in Australia,’ NPS senior clinical adviser, Judith Mackson said.
‘While many people have tried to give up at some point, attempts to quit are more likely to succeed if coupled with the right information, products and support.’
For more information about the best quit smoking program for you, talk to your doctor or ask your pharmacist.
Women warned aspirin reports may be misleading
Recent research from the US suggests women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer may benefit from taking aspirin but the National Prescribing Service (NPS) warns people to talk to their health professional before self-medicating.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, has received significant media attention, with some reports suggesting aspirin could be a miracle treatment.
NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes says such media reports are concerning and people should not underestimate the strength or effectiveness of a medicine just because it can be purchased without a prescription.
‘Like all medicines, aspirin has benefits but it also has potential harms. Aspirin is a salicylate drug, commonly used to relieve minor aches and pains, reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory agent’, Dr Weekes said.
‘Aspirin also has a blood-thinning effect and can therefore increase the risk of bleeding, which can be dangerous for people already taking anticoagulants. For people with asthma it can trigger attacks if they are sensitive to this type of medicine.’
‘If you are taking other medicines, particularly cancer treatments, it’s important to always talk to your doctor before starting a new medicine. This includes medicines that can be bought without a prescription or from an outlet such as a supermarket where you will not receive clinical advice.’
The study was conducted on 4164 female registered nurses in the US with a diagnosis of breast cancer between 1976 and 2002.
Dr Weekes said the results may be not be generalised for all women and recommends people talk to their doctor or pharmacist about whether aspirin is the best medicine for their personal condition.
Consumers with questions about medicines can call the NPS Medicines Line on 1300 888 763 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST) and talk to a pharmacist for the cost of a local call (mobiles may cost more).
Health Minutes videos
NPS has co-produced a series of short videos with GSB Productions about different health topics, which were aired on the ABC website. The videos are available to view on the ABC website and will be available shortly on the NPS website.
Lively radio interviews with Dr John D’Arcy
Each month NPS is interviewed by Dr John D’Arcy on Health Matters, a radio program that airs in regional areas across Australia on Sunday mornings. To listen to these short interviews go to our Health Matters page. You can also link back to this page so your communities and stakeholders can listen to them too.
National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) is an independent, not-for-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 consumers, health professionals, government and the pharmaceutical industry.
NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
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