More than 1,800 pharmacists and intern pharmacists have taken up the opportunity to extend the quality of care for patients with type 2 diabetes by enrolling in the National Prescribing Service Limited’s (NPS) new-look Pharmacy Practice Review counselling and action resource.

“The strong enrolments to date demonstrate that the review kit has been well received. Pharmacists say they are using the materials to better communicate with their patients, which is yielding positive results,” NPS Deputy CEO, Ms Karen Kaye said.

Of the enrollees to date, 658 are pharmacists and 1,171 are intern pharmacists and most - more than 1,100 - of enrolments were made via the NPS website. Enrolment remains open and those who complete the activity by 24 October 2008 will receive feedback in February 2009.

Designed to better support pharmacist-patient counselling and interaction, the new-look materials include tear-off pads with information to use in discussion with patients, an action checklist for pharmacists to work through with individual patients and the latest clinical information about best practice in drug use in type 2 diabetes.

Launched in 2001 as the Pharmacy Practice Audit and now called the Pharmacy Practice Review, it retains the selfaudit component to help pharmacists keep up with best practice. Participants receive a feedback report that includes individual results, aggregated results of the total participating pharmacist group and provides expert commentary on the aggregate results.

Sydney-based community pharmacist Irene McMartin said the new approach has prompted her to think about the way she counsels patients. “The focus is on me. It gets me to reflect on how well I did and how I can improve my service and level of care. It reminds me to ask people about their lifestyle,” Ms McMartin said.

South Australian-based community pharmacist Thelma Tantalos, says the reviews she has done have helped develop her communication skills and encourage more meaningful interactions with her patients. “I would definitely recommend them to other pharmacists. They help us to optimise our counselling and achieve the best results for each of our customers. The review is now easier to follow and easier to apply with each patient,” she said.

David North, a New South Wales-based community pharmacist who is completing the current Pharmacy Practice Review ‘Enhancing patient care in type 2 diabetes’, said it helps him establish priorities when counselling patients and reminds him to also ask lifestyle questions.

“The presentation is much easier; it is more in-depth, it sets out points to encourage adherence to medication and it encourages us [pharmacists] to discuss lifestyle matters such as exercise,” Mr North said. “For instance, if they’re playing golf, we ask them, how’s your golf going? The review takes a more holistic approach and there have been flow-on effects. Our patients are now volunteering information so we’re receiving information about other aspects of their health, such as if they have a weight problem or if they smoke.”

The review package is a part of NPS’s broader vision to encourage quality use of medicines by enabling pharmacists and health professionals to deliver best-practice management care. The review uses best practice guidelines to help pharmacists and staff review current practice, consider introducing changes, review and reflect on these changes, and to monitor their progress.

The review allows pharmacists to self-assess their abilities against professional practice standards and core competencies, and current good practice in the management of diabetes, to determine their learning needs. It also demonstrates a commitment to provide patients with the best possible quality of care in medication.

To take part in the new Pharmacy Practice Review go to www.nps.org.au/healthpro, email or call 02 8217 8700 and return your forms to NPS when you have completed the activity. Those who returned their forms by 25 July 2008 will receive feedback in December 2008.

ENDS

National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.