Pharmacy assistants receive education opportunity with Reckitt Benckiser's Quality Use of Medicines Kit
The launch of Reckitt Benckiser’s Quality Use of Medicines Education kit introduces a new innovative approach to education for pharmacy assistants.
Much like the award-winning PainPod program, the Quality Use of Medicines educational kits were developed in conjunction with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. Designed to help refute common misconceptions about over-the-counter analgesics, such as the incorrect belief that you need to take ibuprofen with food, the educational kits help inform pharmacists and pharmacy assistants how to best help customers tackle common everyday questions about pain management.
Authored by leading biomedical researcher, Kim Rainsford, the education kit utilises the ‘Ask, Assess, Advise’ protocol to help pharmacy assistants match customers’ pain needs with evidence-based pain solutions available in pharmacy. Pharmacy assistants are also able to gain valuable QCPP hours and pharmacists able to receive QCPP by completing the Quality Use of Medicines Education kit learning activities.
The Quality Use of Medicines Education kit offers pharmacy assistants the opportunity to increase their knowledge about pain medication in a familiar workplace environment. Designed to be delivered by pharmacists as a small-group learning activity, the education kit can be conveniently presented to pharmacy assistants within an hour of their working day.
There are interactive activities, as well as quizzes for pharmacy assistants to help assist in the learning process. Upon conclusion of the session all participants will receive a certificate of completion.
'It is wonderful that RB have once again looked after pharmacy assistants. They are really leading the way in pharmacy education. Their education kits are easy and take a lot of pressure off pharmacy assistants,' says Barbara Ramsay, Training and Induction Co-ordinator at Australia’s largest pharmacy, Cincotta Discount Chemist, Merrylands.
Pharmacy assistants are recommended to encourage their pharmacists to order the newly launched Quality Use of Medicines Education kit. A letter from the National President of The Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Kos Sclavos, has been sent to pharmacists in February, notifying them of the education kit launch.
'The Guild is supportive of endeavours to equip pharmacists and staff with accurate and up-to-date information, which they can use to provide customers with appropriate recommendations. We have a responsibility in community pharmacy to equip our customers with information that allows informed choices to be made,' says Kos Sclavos in the letter.
The kit can be ordered by fax or by calling 1800 1800 226 766. Pharmacy assistants can also accompany pharmacists at the APP Conference, where the Quality Use of Medicines Education kit will be available to order.
