Editorial
Welcome to the June homepage edition for i2P (Information to Pharmacists) E-Magazine.
The editor’s desk has been vacant for nearly a month to enable a short vacation to happen, and gratefully it has stirred some sort of a revival.
The volume of work unpublished over May will be reorganised and will appear gradually over future editions.
Since resuming “the desk” the pressure has recommenced, but that is part of the job.
This month we have featured Gerald Quigley as he illustrates an evidence-based complementary medicine that helps Alzheimer patients. The product is already helping patients but is being criticised because of a perceived lack of “quality” in its evidence profile.
Mark Coleman has jumped in to point out the lack of quality in mainstream evidence for drugs, and I find it quite appalling that a serial complainer can justify any mainstream evidence as being “gold standard”.
Read Mark’s article under the title of “Research and other Medical Wonders”.
Columns
Dr John Dunlop (PGDipPharm, MPharm, DPharm(Auck), FACPP, FNZCP, FPSNZ, MCAPA): Inside NZ
Loretta Marron BSc: Health Watch
Barry Urquhart: Marketing Focus
Harvey Mackay: Strategic Thinking
Mark Neuenschwander: I`ve been thinking about...Recent Comments
Past Editions
Volume 1 Number 1
Volume 1 Number 2
Volume 1 Number 3
Volume 1 Number 4
Volume 1 Number 5
Volume 1 Number 6
Volume 1 Number 7
Volume 2 Number 1
Volume 2 Number 2
Volume 2 Number 3
Volume 2 Number 4
Volume 2 Number 5
Volume 2 Number 6
Volume 2 Number 7
Volume 2 Number 8
Volume 2 Number 9
Volume 2 Number 10
Volume 2 Number 11
Volume 3 Number 1
Volume 3 Number 2
Volume 3 Number 3
Volume 3 Number 4
Volume 3 Number 5
Volume 3 Number 6
Volume 3 Number 7
Volume 3 Number 8
Volume 3 Number 9
Volume 3 Number 10
Volume 3 Number 11
Volume 4 Number 1
Volume 4 Number 2
Volume 4 Number 3
Volume 4 Number 4
Volume 4 Number 5
Volume 4 Number 6
Volume 4 Number 7
Volume 4 Number 8
Volume 4 Number 9
Volume 4 Number 10
Volume 4 Number 11
Volume 5 Number 1
Volume 5 Number 2
Volume 5 Number 3
Volume 5 Number 4
Volume 5 Number 5
Hospital News
Staff Writer: Respected pharmacy managers resign over their concerns for patient safety | open full screen
Health Politics
Mark Coleman: Research and Other Medical Wonders
Neil Johnston: The Call For Unity
Gerald Quigley: What about the Alzheimer’s patient?
Professional Pharmacists Australia Spokesperson: Australian Pharmacists Welcome Removal of the Profession from Skilled Occupation Lists | open full screen
Professional Pharmacists Australia Spokesperson: Australian Pharmacists Say Small Increase In Pay Not Enough | open full screen
Climate Change
Staff Researcher: Splitting the sea: turning ocean water into hydrogen fuelEPublications
NPS Media Releases for May 2013
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Regular information provided by NPS – Better choices, better health - NPS enables people to be medicinewise. | |
NPS is a valued independent resource for accurate, evidence-based prescribing information and education. Given the marketing pressures applied by global drug companies, NPS plays a vital and unique role across the healthcare sector. For more information please contact Stephanie Childs on (02) 8217 8667 or 0419 618 365 or schilds@nps.org.au
2 MAY 2013
MEDICINEINSIGHT FOCUSES ON MELBOURNE
NPS MedicineWise has now launched its groundbreaking MedicineInsight program in Melbourne general practices, following its successful deployment in the Goulburn Valley in northern Victoria. Practices in Collingwood, Richmond and Altona have joined the journey to better prescribing and healthcare in Australia.
MedicineInsight aims to collect the anonymous data of approximately 2 million patients, making it one of the most comprehensive health data collection programs in Australia. This free service will provide clinical reports back to practices that choose to participate, identifying areas for improvement and supporting practices with tailored education and training.
“MedicineInsight has been a massive undertaking,” says NPS MedicineWise CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes.
“We are in our pilot phase, so our technology is in development to ensure compatibility with the diverse range of general practice environments. We are also extremely mindful that we need to guarantee patient and GP confidentiality.”
MedicineInsight has received ethics approval from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
“Our top priority is to ensure that our program meets best practice in terms of data security and privacy,” says Dr Weekes.
“We have also consulted widely with general practices, consumers and a range of peak, health-related organisations to ensure we meet community needs and expectations with our program.
“Patients and GPs can be assured that their personal information is not provided to any third parties.
The MedicineInsight program will soon move into South Australia and New South Wales with plans to also implement the program in Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and the Northern Territory in the near future.
“We are really appreciative of those general practices that have already got on board,” says Dr Weekes.
“Prescribing and clinical practice is growing in complexity and we’re glad these practitioners have seen the benefits of improving their data collection and take up this service provided by NPS MedicineWise.
“We are confident that when we reach out into other states that we’ll get as good a response as we have achieved so far in Victoria.
“We’ll then have a really clear picture of medicine use and prescribing across Australia, including the areas where we can do better.”
General practices interested in getting involved in MedicineInsight can visit www.nps.org.au/medicineinsight.
May 3, 2013
SAVE LIVES: WASH YOUR HANDS.
This World Hand Hygiene Day NPS MedicineWise is reminding health professionals that clean care is safer care.
Sunday 5 May 2013 marks the fifth annual World Hand Hygiene Day – a World Health Organization (WHO) campaign to address the global challenge of healthcare associated infections and promote simple, low cost methods for effective infection control and prevention in hospitals, primary care settings and the community.
According to the WHO campaign, infections that are acquired in health care settings are the most frequent adverse events in global healthcare, affecting hundreds of millions of people every year.
NPS MedicineWise clinical adviser, Dr Philippa Binns, says the life-saving benefits of clean hands means good hand hygiene is a must for all health professionals.
“We’re approaching cold and flu season in Australia, so whether you’re seeing patients in general practice or engaging with consumers in community pharmacy, it’s important to form healthy habits to prevent the spread of infections this winter,” says Dr Binns.
“Clean hands are one of our best defences against infectious diseases. It sounds simple, because it is.”
“Regularly washing your hands with soap and running water is always good practice, but it’s particularly important that you remember to do so before and after seeing every patient in clinical settings or when you’re engaging with sick patients in the community. Of course, if you are sick and need to work, it is very important that you wash your hands after sneezing, coughing or touching your own eyes, nose or mouth.
“That way, when you come into contact other people, and when you’re touching objects like a door knob, or products such those in the pharmacy or clinic, there’s far less chance that you will transfer infections onto surfaces that others might touch.”
Dr Binns says that washing your hands of infection is easy and effective if you follow six simple steps:
1. Lather your hands with soap.
2. Rub both palms together.
3. Wash each finger and between your fingers too.
4. Scrub your palms using your fingernails.
5. Rub the back of one hand with the palm of the other.
6. Rinse your hands thoroughly with running water and then dry them.
“Everyone can take very simple steps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in our community and health professionals can set a strong example by remembering to practice good hand hygiene at work,” says Dr Binns.
“If you do see patients with colds or flu this winter, remember to practice good hygiene, recommend rest, treat your patient’s symptoms, and don’t prescribe antibiotics for uncomplicated viral infections.
“Every time we prescribe antibiotics unnecessarily or incorrectly we encourage the development of dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria and contribute to the spread of superbugs in the community.
“So this World Hand Hygiene Day, make a commitment to keep your hands clean and spread knowledge about colds and flu – not infections.”
For more information about preventing colds and flu visit http://www.nps.org.au/preventing-colds
Or visit www.nps.org.au/antibiotic_resistance to join the fight against antibiotic resistance.
17 MAY 2013
BE AWARE: PERINDOPRIL + AMLODIPINE PBS LISTING DIFFERS FROM LABEL
NPS MedicineWise has published information for health professional to clarify prescribing and dispensing guidelines for fixed dose combination products containing perindopril and amlodipine (Coveram and Reaptan).
The order in which the components appear in the Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT), which is used in PBS information and medical software packages, differs from the order on the manufacturer’s pack labelling. Caution is required to ensure the intended combination is accurately prescribed and dispensed.
Coveram and Reaptan are PBS listed as substitution therapy for the treatment of hypertension in a patient who is not adequately controlled with either of the drugs in the combination, and/or stable coronary heart disease in a patient who is stabilised on treatment with perindopril and amlodipine at the same doses.
Health professionals should note that the medicines were first listed on the PBS in June 2010 with the perindopril component listed first, and the current Product Information and label for each also list the components in this order, however the PBS listing was changed in December 2012 to reflect the preferred name under the Australian Medicines Terminology (AMT) (i.e. amlodipine + perindopril).
For more information, read the NPS Direct article at
23 MAY 2013
WHICH TESTS MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
NPS MedicineWise is launching a new educational program on preventive activities in general practice. The program, which primarily focuses on healthy people aged 40 – 49, builds on the work NPS MedicineWise has undertaken in the area of medical tests since 2009.
NPS MedicineWise clinical adviser Dr Andrew Boyden says that while the program has a focus on encouraging appropriate use of tests during preventive activities in general practice, pharmacists also play an important role.
“There is a great opportunity to help identify people who are at increased risk of developing chronic conditions and give them the chance to make lifestyle changes that will benefit them as they age,” says Dr Boyden.
For example, pharmacists can offer guidance around evidence-based self assessment tools such as the Australian Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment (AUSDRISK) and encourage people who score highly to go to their GP for a fuller assessment.
They can also support people in making healthy lifestyle changes to reduce the impact of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. Addressing smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity and weight (SNAPW risk factors) is particularly relevant in chronic disease prevention.
“Pharmacists are often the first port of call for many people who are not sure they need to see a GP. This can provide an opportunity for phamacists to discuss the importance of chronic disease prevention and refer to a GP for risk assessment and further testing if appropriate,” says Dr Boyden.
The new NPS MedicineWise program encourages GPs to prioritise the use of evidence-based risk assessments and tests and avoid inappropriate testing that may cause more harm than good.
Dr Boyden says that tests are just one part of the story and are not infallible.
“For example a test may identify a condition that if left alone would not impact on a person’s health, but once identified could lead to further investigations and treatments with harmful side effects. This overdiagnosis of a condition highlights the need to weigh the risks and benefits before testing,” he says.
The latest edition of Medicinewise News, “Testing times: Which tests are best for assessing risk in preventive health care?” will be distributed to over 78,000 health professionals around Australia from Friday 24 May. It explores why some tests are recommended for cancer screening by comparing the evidence for two common tests: the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test for prostate cancer and the faecal occult blood test for colorectal cancer.
This program aims to align with national guidelines, particularly the RACGP Red Book (which is available free online at http://www.racgp.org.au/your-practice/guidelines/redbook/), and was developed with input from a wide range of experts including GPs and pathologists.
The program also recognises the importance of ensuring that vulnerable people including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are identified and covered through preventive activities in general practice and community care.
For more information, and to read more about the evidence behind a range of tests, including PSA, vitamin D, thyroid, diabetes risk assessment and the absolute CVD risk assessment, visit the new online information hub, available from 24 May, at www.nps.org.au/preventive-health.
26 MAY 2013
Preventing pneumococcal disease: a vaccine success story
Universal pneumococcal vaccination of young children and older adults has substantially reduced the disease in Australia, according to experts from the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. What’s more, the vaccine program has also contributed to herd immunity.
Writing in the upcoming June edition of Australian Prescriber, Dr Clayton Chiu and Professor Peter McIntyre say that pneumococcal vaccination has had good success in Australia, and the continued development and refinement of the vaccination is likely to lead to an even further reduction of the disease.
“The highest incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in Australia is seen among young children, especially those under two years, and in the elderly,” they write.
In 2005, Australia implemented universal pneumococcal vaccination of all young children and of all adults aged 65 and over.
“Since this program started, reductions in invasive pneumococcal disease have been seen not only in the groups vaccinated, but also in older children and adults in the age groups who did not receive the vaccine,” write the authors.
“This herd immunity that we have seen as a result of the widespread vaccination is extremely important in protecting the population as a whole from infection.”
In addition to infant vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for healthy non-indigenous adults aged 65 and over, as well as in people with an increased risk of invasive pneumococcal disease – such as people who smoke, those with diabetes or severe asthma, and those with a weakened immune system. Healthy indigenous adults are recommended to have the vaccine from 50 years of age.
Australian recommendations for pneumococcal vaccination are complex. The article summarises and explains these guidelines for use in children and adults, based on the 2013 edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook.
To read the full article visit http://www.australianprescriber.com/upload/pdf/online_first/pneumococcal_vaccines.pdf
For more information on vaccines and who should have them, including detailed information about the pneumococcal vaccine, visit the NPS MedicineWise website: www.nps.org.au/pneumococcal-infections
30 MAY 2013
LIVING WELL WITH WARFARIN: FREE RESOURCES FOR PHARMACIES
As part of the 2013 Achieving Good Anticoagulant Practice national program, NPS MedicineWise has developed a new free resource for people taking warfarin.
The Warfarin Dose Tracker is a passport-sized card that helps people taking warfarin keep track of their INR results, record any changes to their daily warfarin dose and be reminded when their next INR test is due. Samples are being mailed to all community and hospital pharmacies around the country this week.
NPS MedicineWise clinical adviser Dr Philippa Binns says the Warfarin Dose Tracker provides a summary of important information about living safely with warfarin, and will support pharmacists in their professional conversations with people taking warfarin or their carers. The Warfarin Dose Tracker has been tested with consumers taking warfarin and their carers, and was enthusiastically received.
“Our research with people taking warfarin found that while most of them received comprehensive information about the medicine when they were first prescribed warfarin, most of them felt overwhelmed at that time and couldn’t take all of the information in,” says Dr Binns.
“The participants indicated that they would appreciate a summary resource to serve as a reminder about the most important aspects of taking warfarin.
“Our market research identified the need for information to address knowledge gaps about certain aspects of living with warfarin. It also showed that most people don’t record their INR results which is an important part of being medicinewise with warfarin.
“Participants indicated that they prefer to receive information and resources about their medicines from a trusted health professional, like their pharmacist, so we hope that pharmacists will take advantage of the opportunity to order the free NPS MedicineWise resources and have them on hand to share with patients.”
The card is designed to be durable and small enough for people to carry to medical appointments, or to keep with their warfarin tablets or near the phone. The card is easily transportable, for example while on holiday, and useful in case of an emergency.
NPS MedicineWise has also produced a new Living with warfarin fact sheet that addresses knowledge gaps identified in the research to help people life safely on warfarin. It is available to download from the NPS MedicineWise website at www.nps.org.au/warfarin-fact-sheet
The new Warfarin Dose Tracker and Living with warfarin fact sheet join a suite of consumer resources designed to help people live safely and well on warfarin. This includes more comprehensive information that can be found in our online warfarin knowledge hub at www.nps.org.au/warfarin
Additional free copies of the NPS Warfarin Dose Tracker can be ordered online at www.nps.org.au/warfarin-dose-tracker or by phoning (02) 8217 8700.
31 MAY 2013
DON’T HAVE SIX MINUTES? TRY SIX SECONDS.
As cold and flu season sets in, NPS MedicineWise is launching as series of six-second videos to highlight the problem of antibiotic resistance in our communities.
The campaign, developed for the Vine app on Twitter, is a first for public health promotion in Australia.
In a series of four humorous short films, NPS MedicineWise is depicting a world in which taking antibiotics for viruses, like colds or flu, is considered anti-social behaviour.
NPS MedicineWise CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes, says the campaign was designed to change the public’s perception that antibiotics are effective in the treatment of viral infections. She says the light-hearted films carry a serious message: don’t expect antibiotics for cold or flu.
“Antibiotic resistance has been identified by the World Health Organization as the greatest threat to global health today. That makes it worthy of serious discussion, but it doesn’t get much play around the dinner table,” Dr Weekes says.
“Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of antibiotics use in the world. That means our campaign to address the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in the community needs to be as accessible and engaging as possible.
“That’s particularly true as we move into the winter months and more people start searching out the elusive cure for the common cold.”
“These six-second flicks won’t tell people everything they need to know about antibiotic resistance but they will get people thinking about the problem.
“Many people still don’t understand that antibiotics are not effective in the treatment of viral infections, and we know that Australians are all too ready to ask their doctor for antibiotics when they or their children have a cold or flu.
“Patient expectations play a big role in prescribing behaviour. So as we work with health professionals to improve antimicrobial stewardship in general practice, we’re also talking to consumers to dispel some of the misconceptions that might see patients putting pressure on their doctors to prescribe.
“As part of our five year program to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in Australia, we’ve developed a wealth of resources for GPs and pharmacists. So as more people learn about the problem through this series of short videos, health professionals can use our resources to help people become part of the solution.
You can see our Vine app videos by following @NPSMedicineWise on Twitter.
Fifteen second versions of the films are available at www.youtube.com/user/npsmedicinewise, will be promoted through Facebook, and will made available to television networks as community service announcements.
For more information visit www.nps.org.au/antibotic_resistance or visit www.facebook.com/NPSmedicinewise to join the fight against antibiotic resistance.
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