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Community Update 15Community Update 15

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October 08

Welcome to the latest issue of Community Update, provided by the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS).

The NPS Community Update, formerly known as Community e.news, helps keep you informed about issues around medicines use as they relate to the individuals and in the community.

NPS and partner organisations actively engage with communities to encourage a greater understanding of medicines and when and how to use them to improve health and wellbeing. This includes:

  • information about how to select management options wisely
  • if medicines are considered necessary, how to choose suitable medicines
  • how to store and use medicines safely and effectively.

The NPS definition of medicines includes prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and natural therapies.

The quality use of medicines 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

Events

Links to other helpful NPS publications

Free information from NPS

News

Consumer medicine information leaflets: $1 million research project with Sydney University

A University of Sydney research team has been awarded a million dollar tender to develop and test viable alternative formats of Consumer Medicine Information in English.

But what is a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet? Remember those little leaflets you used to get in the box with your medicines? They are called Consumer Medicine Information leaflets. They are intended to inform people about their prescription and pharmacist-only medicines. The leaflet provides important facts people may need to know before, during and after taking a medicine and includes information on how to take the medicine, side effects and a description of the product. It is written by the pharmaceutical manufacturer following government guidelines to ensure the leaflet is accurate, unbiased and easy to use.

While your doctor and pharmacist will give you information about your medicine, a Consumer Medicine Information leaflet is a useful back-up reference. In Australia, a consumer medicine information leaflet should be available for all prescription medicines. NPS supports initiatives to improve the availability and use of consumer medicine information so we are thrilled that the Pharmacy Guild of Australia has funded this research.

If you’d like more information about: 

This research is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the Fourth Community Pharmacy Agreement, and managed by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia.


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Events

New-look NPS website goes live with RSS

You’ll notice that the NPS website looks different. The new user-friendly design aims to make searching for the most relevant and up-to-date information about medicines much easier and we would appreciate your feedback on the new-look site.
 
Shaped by an analysis of user needs and following a number of consultations with key users, the re-design and re-build of the site has been a very large project.
 
When we were designing it, our research indicated the following:

  • Consumers wanted to find information about medicines that was written for them, and that was about a treatment for a certain condition. They also wanted to know about managing their health and/or their medicines, and to be able to share these resources with others.         
  • Health professionals identified their key needs as professional education, finding information or resources about a particular condition or medicine for a patient and keeping up-to-date with new medicines and medicines news. 

We aim to deliver a truly magnetic site, which attracts users again and again, and would appreciate your support in informing people in your organisation and community about it.
 
If you would like to keep up-to-date about medicines subscribe to an RSS feed or an e-alert and you’ll get an email when new editions of Medicine Update and MedicinesTalk are published on the website.
 
To share your comments or suggestions about the new-look site, please contact Phil Gifford. 

Get to know your medicines 2008 campaign: Launch to culturally and linguistically diverse communities

The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) work together to promote the safe and wise use of medicines by culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

From September to December 2008, we are running a national Get to know your medicines campaign with Chinese and Italian-speaking seniors.

This campaign includes:

  • Radio advertising and interviews in Cantonese, Mandarin and Italian on SBS National, 2AC, 2CR, 3CW and Rete Italia.
  • Approximately 77 community education seminars run in-language through 16 Chinese and Italian organisations national.
  • New translated resources including: a bilingual Medicines List and a list of questions to ask the doctor or pharmacist about their medicines.  
  • Distribution of the new resources, bilingual Medimates, and campaign information through direct mail out of a letter and order form to nearly 16,000 organisations, including GPs practices, community and hospital pharmacies and multicultural organisations.

In addition, from November there will be a 2009 Italian Get to know your medicines calendar available for Italian service providers with pictures donated by the Italian Historical Society Victoria and CO.AS.IT Victoria. 

Are you or your networks interested in ordering free copies of translated medicine information resources?

Simply complete this fax order form to order hard copies or order online. The resources are also available to download electronically on the NPS website.

Please email us if you are interested in further information on the campaign or specifically for:

  • dates and locations of community education seminars run by Chinese and Italian organisations in your state or territory, from October–November 2008
  • acquiring a presentation pack to run a medicines seminar in Chinese or Italian
  • acquiring a recording of the Chinese or Italian radio community service announcement for your website or community radio station.

2008 Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign launch

On 27 October, the National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) launched the second phase of its 2008 Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign, which aims to provide consumers with independent information so they can make an informed choice about generic medicines.

This multi-faceted campaign, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, includes an integrated series of television commercials, digital strategies and online resources, advertising and marketing. This includes in-pharmacy advertising and a tool kit for community pharmacy staff to support best practice when discussing generic medicines options with consumers. It also includes a range of community-based activities that will focus on seniors and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The television commercials, which include two 30-second and two 15-second features, will air for two weeks on all commercial stations in regional and metropolitan areas across Australia.

The campaign prompts consumers to speak to their doctor or pharmacist, call Medicines Line or go to www.nps.org.au/genericmedicines for more information.

NPS offers the following resources and asks for your support to distribute them to your members/clients:
  • Download and forward the campaign newsletter to your colleagues (or contact NPS on 02 8217 8700 to order hardcopies — limited copies available).
  • Include a campaign update article in your member publications (contact NPS for an electronic copy).
  • Order free NPS resources online, including the new 'Know the active ingredient' fact sheet, and include in information packs distributed to consumers.
  • Order campaign posters for display
  • Include a link from your website to the NPS Generic medicines website (contact NPS to discuss).
  • Encourage seniors to attend a free peer education session about generic medicines, run by the Council on the Ageing (COTA) organisations in partnership with NPS (seniors can register by contacting the COTA in their state/territory).
All resources are available free of charge.

For more information about the campaign, please contact Liane Johnson.

Links to other helpful 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 spring edition of MedicinesTalk is now available. You can read about:

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 — information about a selection of 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 a selection of new medicines and medicines recently listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (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 access to the available evidence to help people decide if a new medicine is right for them.

Current topics include:

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.

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Free information from NPS

Download a summary of resources and NPS order form

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.

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Follow these links to subscribe or unsubscribe from Community Update.

If you would like to keep up-to-date about medicines you can subscribe to an RSS feed or an e-alert and you’ll get an email when new editions of Medicine Update and MedicinesTalk are published on the website.

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.

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Date published: 2008-10-30 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.