U1 L3 & L4 Clinical Guidelines, Checking

Question 1

What are clinical guidelines?

Answer 1

Recommendations on how to diagnose and treat medical conditions

Question 2

What are the characteristics of clinical guidelines?

Answer 2

• evidence based
• not legally binding
• updated regularly
• summarise current knowledge and weigh benefits and harms

Question 3

Where can clinical guidelines be found?

Answer 3

1. NICE - National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
2. All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)
3. Local health board/trust
4. Specific or Specialist guidelines

Question 4

What are considered ‘local guidelines’ ?

Answer 4

Those issued by health boards or trusts

Those issued by individual hospitals

Question 5

What does AWTTC stand for?

Answer 5

All Wales Therapeutics and Toxicology Centre

Question 6

What key services does AWTTC provide?

Answer 6

• publishes NHS Wales Primary Care Antimicrobial Guidelines
• Yellow Card Centre (YCC) Wales
• Welsh National Poisons Unit

Question 7

What are the three main roles of the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG)?

Answer 7

1. Develop advice on new medicines
2. Advise Welsh Gov about future HC developments
3. Help Welsh Gov to develop a prescribing strategy

Question 8

What is MicroGuide?

Answer 8

A tool used to publish and provide easy access to local antimicrobial guidelines across a variety of platforms

Question 9

What is the BRAG List? What does it stand for?

Answer 9

Individual lists compiled by local health boards

Black - meds not approved for Rx in ANY setting
Red - Hospital specialist use only
Amber - initiated by specialist
Green - meds suitable for initiation in 1, 2 or 3 care

Question 10

What three main factors should be considered when undertaking a clinical check?

Answer 10

1. Patient characteristics
2. Medication regimen factors
3. Administration and monitoring

Question 11

What three sorts of patient characteristics should be taken into account during a clinical check?

Answer 11

1. patient type e.g. age, gender, ethnic group
2. co-morbidities e.g. heart failure
3. patient intolerances and preferences

Question 12

What six medication regimen factors should be considered during a clinical check?

Answer 12

1. indication
2. changes in regular treatment
3. dose, frequency, strength
4. formulation
5. drug compatibility
6. monitoring requirements

Question 13

What two administration and monitoring factors should be taken into account during a clinical check?

Answer 13

1. route of administration
2. aids to administration

Question 14

What is a contra-indication?

Answer 14

condition or circumstance in which a certain drug should not be used

Question 15

From what age is aspirin safe to use?

Answer 15

16

Question 16

What are the indications for Citalopram?

Answer 16

Depression and panic disorders

Question 17

First line lower UTI antimicrobial

Answer 17

Nitrofurantoin

Question 18

In what circumstances could you consider tailoring a dose to weight?

Answer 18

• in children
• in adults that are considerably small, large

Question 19

If a Rx states op as quantity, how much do you give?

Answer 19

smallest available tube

(may want to check)

Question 20

od

Answer 20

each day

Question 21

bd

Answer 21

twice a day

Question 22

qd(s)/qid

Answer 22

four times a day

Question 23

tds/tid

Answer 23

three times a day

Question 24

prn

Answer 24

when required, up to

Question 25

on/n/nocte

Answer 25

at night

Question 26

m/om/mane

Answer 26

morning

Question 27

mitte

Answer 27

send

Question 28

md/mdu

Answer 28

use as directed

Question 29

stat

Answer 29

immediately

Question 30

ac

Answer 30

before food

Question 31

pc

Answer 31

after food

Question 32

1p

Answer 32

one puff

Question 33

1p/1op

Answer 33

one pack