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Welcome to the May 2012 homepage edition of i2P-Information to Pharmacists. Rollo Manning has been having some time out having staples removed from the site of his open heart surgery.He is now at home recuperating in Darwin, having arrived home last Friday, beating a cold and hasty retreat from Canberra.We all wish him a speedy recovery and hopefully, he will be fit enough to contribute by next month.
This month, Pharmedia discusses the toll that is taken when someone complains about you to an authority without good cause. Well, the good news is that you can now take action to protect yourself if such a complaint is made, and that may even include action for defamation. Read about a recent case involving two doctors, with Mark Coleman drawing on personal experience to illustrate.

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NPS Media Releases October 2009

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Regular information provided by NPS – Better choices, better health - NPS enables people to be medicinewise.

The National Prescribing Service (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.

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30 October 2009
Tips for finding reliable health information sources on the web

Searching for health information on the internet can be overwhelming. The sheer volume of websites makes it hard to know where to start and which ones contain reliable information.

To help consumers find the best information sources on the internet, the National Prescribing Service (NPS) has published tips in its latest edition of MedicinesTalk.

“There are a number of things to consider when you are searching for health information on the internet; most importantly that the content is accurate,” NPS CEO, Dr Lynn Weekes said.

“Check who has created the website and determine its purpose – has it been created to provide information, sell a product or tell a personal story? Be wary of sites that exist to sell a product or service. Some companies also use blogs and websites to gather patient stories and feedback for use in positioning their products,” Dr Weekes said.

“When looking for information about specific medicines, particularly prescription medicines, it is best to use only Australian websites as product names vary from country to country.”

“It’s also important to ensure the information is up to date. Good websites will say when its pages were last updated. Medical research is constantly evolving and information that was correct a year ago may no longer be considered relevant.”

“Finally, if a website displays the HealthInsite or Health on the Net Foundation (HoN) logos, it has been judged to be of good quality and suitable for consumers.”

Some trust-worthy websites include:

• www.betterhealthchannel.vic.gov.au
• www.mydr.com.au
• www.healthinsite.gov.au
• www.nps.org.au/consumers
• www.healthtranslations.vic.gov.au  

“Even if the information you find is from a reliable website, use it only as a guide. Try not to self-diagnose using information from the internet - if you are concerned about anything see your GP and tell them where you found the information,” Dr Weekes advised.

To view the full article and others in the Spring edition of MedicinesTalk go to www.nps.org.au/consumers/publications/medicines_talk

29 October 2009
What health professionals can do on World Stroke Day

More than 5720 health professionals across Australia have taken the opportunity to participate in National Prescribing Service (NPS) professional development activities focusing on stroke prevention.

Stroke – What can I do? is the theme of World Stroke Day 2009 (29 October) and aims to improve global awareness of stroke prevention and encourage optimal management of stroke patients.

“World Stroke Day is an ideal time for health professionals to participate in the NPS therapeutic program, Antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy in stroke prevention,” NPS senior clinical adviser, Judith Mackson said.

A focus of the therapeutic program is the use of warfarin therapy in reducing the risk of thromboembolic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation, as well as ways to improve its safe use.

“Warfarin offers enormous benefits in reducing the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation but it is often underutilised. In a recently published Australian study, the majority of patients with known atrial fibrillation were either not anticoagulated or under-anticoagulated. This concurs with past international findings of inadequate anticoagulation of those at risk of stroke,” Ms Mackson said.

The NPS therapeutic program focuses on:

• Assessing absolute cardiovascular risk to establish which patients would benefit from aspirin in primary prevention of cardiovascular events
• Deciphering the evidence behind aspirin, aspirin plus dipyridamole and clopidogrel to choose the appropriate antiplatelet to prevent recurrent stroke and transient ischaemic attacks (TIA)
• Using scoring of risk factors in patients with atrial fibrillation to stratify stroke risk and decide between warfarin and aspirin
• Assessing risk factors for bleeding in patients with atrial fibrillation before commencing warfarin therapy
• The critical importance of maintaining INR within therapeutic range and educating patients on the safe use of warfarin

“Elements of the program include one–to–one educational visits from NPS Facilitators, peer group discussion and a case study titled Antithrombotic options in stroke prevention, developed to help GPs, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals refine their clinical decision-making skills,” Ms Mackson said.

Health professionals can find more information in NPS News (62) which outlines the appropriate use of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies in the long term prevention of ischaemic stroke and ways to communicate risks and benefits to patients, and Prescribing Practice Review (44) which provides individual prescribing data for GPs and practical independent information.

 For more information visit www.nps.org.au/health_professionals, phone (02) 8217 8700 or email info@nps.org.au.

 15 October 2009
Take action to manage your symptoms on World Menopause Day

Menopause is an inevitable fact of life for women, yet many aren’t aware of the impacts it can have on their health, or the treatment options available.

On World Menopause Day, 18 October 2009, the National Prescribing Service (NPS) is encouraging women who may be entering this phase of life to speak to their doctor about what symptoms they may experience and how symptoms can be managed.

“Women may not realise they are going through menopause, and put symptoms of tiredness, irritability and hot flushes down to stress,” NPS senior clinical adviser, Judith Mackson said.

As women enter midlife, the production of oestrogen by the ovaries slows down, and eventually periods cease. The final menstrual period generally happens when women are between 40 and 58 years old; in Australia the average age is 51-52 years. During the slow-down of oestrogen production the change in hormone levels can cause symptoms such as hot flushes and/or night sweats, trouble sleeping and vaginal dryness. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person.

Being prepared for menopause is important but many women don’t feel confident discussing their options with a doctor.

“NPS has determined that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment if a woman decides to use a medicine to manage menopause symptoms. Research indicates that it can result in 75 per cent reduction in hot flush frequency per week compared to placebo,” Ms Mackson said.

“However the decision to use HRT should be made jointly between the woman and her doctor, and should take into consideration the severity of symptoms, the individual’s medical history, their family medical history and preference of treatment methods,” she advised.

Negative media reports about HRT have led to an increased interest in alternate therapies such as vitamins and herbs, but be aware these therapies are still medicines; they can have side effects and interact with other medicines.

“Even though complementary medicines such as black cohosh, dong quai, and wild yam may appear safer, there is little clinical evidence supporting their efficacy. There have been reports of severe side effects from black cohosh. If you’re thinking about using an alternate therapy to manage the symptoms of menopause speak to your doctor or pharmacist first,” Ms Mackson said.

What to do if you think you’re beginning menopause:

• Discuss any symptoms with your doctor, and give them your personal and family history relating to menopause and cardiovascular health
• Talk to your doctor about the harms and benefits of HRT
• Ask your doctor about how lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms
• Tell your doctor about any medicines, including over-the-counter and vitamins or herbs, you are taking or thinking about taking
• Keep a record of any symptoms to discuss at your next appointment with your doctor

For further resources and to read other women’s experiences with menopause visit
www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/wh35syn.htm  or www.jeanhailes.org.au

 To find out more about NPS including prescribing information about HRT visit www.nps.org.au.

13 October 2009
Russell Edwards reappointed to the NPS Board

The National Prescribing Service (NPS) Board has voted to reappoint Russell Edwards as an NPS director for another three-year term.

Mr Edwards has served on the NPS Board since December 2006 and has chaired the NPS Audit Committee since October 2007.

He is a former vice-president and managing director of Amgen Australia and hence brings to the Board senior experience of the medicines industry. Outside the NPS, Mr Edwards currently chairs the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct Monitoring Committee

“Russell has detailed knowledge of the industry and quality use of medicines principles. His strong leadership and influential skills are greatly appreciated and he is regarded as an opinion leader in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the field of biotechnology,” NPS Chair, Dr Janette Randall said.

As a former board member of Medicines Australia, Mr Edwards sponsored the establishment of guidelines for relationships between consumer health organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. In 2005 he founded Medicines Australia's Biotechnology Group (MABIG).

“Through 36 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Russell brings strong corporate and commercial experience to the Board which will continue to be invaluable as NPS works towards achieving its four and 10 year goals,” Dr Randall said.

 “On behalf of the Board I would like to congratulate Russell on his reappointment and we look forward to working with him over the next three years,” Dr Randall said.

9 October 2009
Supporting outreach pharmacists across Australia

Outreach pharmacists who provide valuable pharmacy services to remote Aboriginal Health Services are invited to participate in a new education program on stroke prevention run by the National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS).

The NPS Outreach Pharmacists for Remote Aboriginal Health Services program, which supports pharmacists to educate the staff they work with in remote Aboriginal communities, was first launched as a pilot program in the Northern Territory in June 2008. It has since been extended to pharmacists working in other remote areas across Australia.

“The outreach pharmacists for remote Aboriginal health services program aims to improve the health of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through providing quality use of medicines education to staff at local health services,“ NPS senior adviser, Judith Mackson said. 

Involvement in the program consists of:

• structured training workshops twice yearly
•  resources to assist the pharmacist to meet the educational needs of the staff and clients at Aboriginal Health Services
• ongoing support to assist with implementation of the program in  Aboriginal Health Services
• providing educational sessions to the staff at the Aboriginal Health Services on two therapeutic topics annually
• participating in teleconferences periodically to facilitate inter professional discussion and feedback
• provision of a short activity report at the conclusion of each therapeutic topic outlining the reach of the program within your Aboriginal Health Services. The reporting will be a component of that required by the Department of Health and Ageing under the S100 pharmacy support allowance, minimising any additional burden to participants.

“After participating in this latest workshop pharmacists will have a sound knowledge of the pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies used in stroke prevention and be able to run educational sessions for staff at Aboriginal Health Services on stroke prevention including overall cardiovascular risk reduction,” Ms Mackson said.

“The program gives pharmacists working in remote and isolated areas the opportunity to network with other pharmacists working in similar areas, and develop cultural competency in working with Aboriginal Health Services,” Ms Mackson said.

NPS will cover the costs of eligible pharmacists to participate in the program such as travel to training workshops, background reading materials, workshop materials, teleconference support and other useful resources.

 The program will also count towards the quality use of medicines and educational requirements of the contractual agreements with the Aboriginal Health Services under the Section 100 Pharmacy Support Allowance Program.

Training workshops will be held in:

Darwin 27-28 October

Cairns 3-4 November

Adelaide 19-20 November

If you are interested in participating in the NPS Outreach Pharmacists for Remote Aboriginal Health Services program or to check eligibility contact Pippa Travers-Mason at NPS on (02) 8217 8650.

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