Self Care - The role of Pharmacy Flashcards
1
Q
What is self - care?
A
- Self-care is the independent act of preventing, diagnosing, and treating one’s own illnesses without seeking professional advice’
– Taking control of your own health and well being
2
Q
Why self care is increasing?
A
- Lifestyle. (e.g. weight loss, smoking cessation) + ( People are becoming more helath concious, ageing population = want to live longer)
- Easy access to drugs. ( OTC available in supermakets & pharmacies & online)
- Public health and environmental factors. ( More funding)
- The increased potential to manage certain illness through self care. ( Long term conditions i.e diabetes = monitoring has become automated & allows patients to have mroe control)
2
Q
What are the 2 types of self- care?
A
- Preventive Self Care
- Sickness Self Care
2
Q
What is Preventive self-care?
A
- Involves maintaining well-being and appearance through exercise and a healthy lifestyle.
- Taking vitamins, minerals, controlling their diet , maintaining appearance using dental, skin and hair care products
- Doing what you can to prevent yourself from becoming ill
2
Q
What is Self Medication?
A
- individuals treat their ailment and conditions with medicines which are approved and available without prescription.
- Safe & effective when used as directed
- OTC= self medication
- Plays a role in adjunctive therapy (= meds used alongside primary treatment) for chronic diseases that are managed by prescription meds
2
Q
Where can you find info for self- care?
A
- Internet
- Newspaper/Magazines
- Books
- Friends/Family ( people trust friends & family)
- Social media ( influencers influence people)
How reliable is the info?
Be wary of the info & where the patient got it from
2
Q
What is Sickness self-care?
A
- You become sick & purchase things to make yourself better.
- Involves diagnosing their conditions and obtaining
products for relieving symptoms - Disease assessment and management:
o Home blood glucose meters and pregnancy tests
o First-aid bandages, nebulizers
o Self diagnostic test kits – iron deficiency, thyroid function, urinary tract infection (You can buy these kits online or from supermarket)
2
Q
Self Medication
A
- most sought after first level of self care
- Globally it is promoted as a means of reducing the health
care burden on the public budget. - Self medicating for minor illnesses is more cost effective than referring to a doctor.
- Reduces burden on NHS
3
Q
Options for Self-Medications
A
- OTC meds ( non - prescription)
- Nutritional dietary supplements + Nutriotional
- Natural products ( steam inhalation w/ vikks vapor rub) and homeopathic remedies( diluted substances)- Not much evidence to support.
4
Q
Over the Counter medicines (OTC)
A
- OTC MED = Non-prescription meds = Can buy w/o a prescription
- safe and effective when a patient follows the directions on the label and as directed by health care professionals including pharmacists.
5
Q
Deregulation
(POM-to-OTC Switch)
A
- Meds that were once POM become OTC
A. Safety
B. Efficacy
C. Provision of information leading to safe use/ Clear guidlines on: - Warnings i.e side effects
- Duration of use
5
Q
Advantages of OTC Medicines
A
- Can save money – cheaper than prescription
charge (£9.65 per item) - A lot of people work 9-5 so it is diff to get an appointment at a time that is suitable for them = More convinent to buy OTC
- Savings for the NHS ( Not paying for doctors or pharacist time or prescriptions)
- Empowering for patients ( educates patients , they can medicate themsleves w/o the need of a doctor)
6
Q
Examples of self- limiting common conditions
A
-Common Conditions people come in for that are self- limiting = clear up in a few days
- Pain
- Cough/cold/flu/sore throat
- Allergy/sinus problems
- Heartburn, indigestion
- Constipation/diarrhoea
- Minor infections
- Skin problems
6
Q
Risks with self medication
A
- Wrong dose/product = patients may misunderstand what the med is for
- Drug-Drug interaction = Make sure the med dosen’t interact w/ any other meds they are taking or may be on
- Abuse of OTC products
- Adverse drug reactions = Drug may cause new side effects but patient may not realise
- Overdiagnosis/Underdiagnosis = Clarify what the patients symptoms actually are & the severity
7
Q
Examples of drug-drug Interactions
A
8
Q
Calling 111
A
- Direct you to diff outcomes
- over 3,500 calls daily are recommended self-care
9
Q
Communication Skills
A
- Active listening
- Questioning techniques (open ended, closed ended
- Observation
- Empathy
- Differentiation between minor and more serious symptoms
- Evidence based treatment choices
10
Q
Safe Use of OTC medicines
A
Pharmacist can combat the misuse of non prescription
drugs through the following:
* Ensure the patients are able to read and understand
product labelling/dosage.
* Help patients avoid drug interactions ( ask what meds are they taking)
* Warn about potential allergic reactions and side effect & how to deal w/ them
* Discuss appropriate drug storage and handling.
11
Q
WWHAM questions
A
- W: who is the patient?
- W: what are the symptoms?
- H: how long have the symptoms been present?
- A: action taken
- M: medication being taken
12
Q
OTC And “Risk” Groups
A
- Children= * S/ meds are licensed for 12 & over only +extra considerations for children & how long they have had the symptoms
- Pregnant and breast feeding women= Any med may be passed on to baby if preg or breastfeeding
- Elderly= may be more impacted by the side effects
- People with long term conditions:
-Pseudoephedrine should be avoided by hypertensive patients , increases bp
-The sedative effects of drugs prescribed for anxiety,
depression and psychosis may be enhanced by antihistamines , drowsiness
13
Q
Who is this medicine for?
A
- Proxy visits
- Think about type of patient
- Elderly?
- Child?
- Pregnant or breastfeeding?
- Excessive use? Laxatives/painkillers ( laxatives used in younger gen for weight loss)
13
Q
What are the symptoms?
A
- Need to find out the nature of problem
- Intensity? Severe or mild
- Location of symptoms
13
Q
How long have the symptoms been
present?
A
- Minor ailments are self-limiting ( a few days)
- Long standing, may need referral
- Repetitive in nature? ( May need referral to check for any underlying issues )
14
Q
What Action has already been taken?
A
- What other drugs have they tried?
- Did they work?
- Avoid offering the same advice….
14
Q
Are you taking any other medication?
A
- Many patients will be taking other medication,prescribed or OTC
15
Q
if patient requests med by name you must
A
- Still under an obligation to ask questions
- patient may be annoyed at the fact that you are asking questions as they may feel undermined - especially if they have taken the med before and it has worked for them.
16
Q
When to refer
A
- Dependent on signs, symptoms and duration e.g.
blood on coughing, or cough longer than 3 weeks. - Avoid raising fears – don’t say “cancer”,
- State that you are worried about s/ symptoms and want to refer
16
Q
A
17
Q
Product Recalls
A
- have to inform patients that a product has been recalled
- give reason why
- suggest a similar product
18
Q
A
