MEDSAWARE Deprescribing Action Week kicks off today, with this year's theme focusing on health misinformation, and Advanced Pharmacy Australia (AdPha) is asking: are you MedsAware or misinformed?
Deprescribing Action Week, which runs from 16-20 Mar, is now in its fourth year, and aims to promote conversations between consumers, carers and healthcare providers around the dangers of polypharmacy and the benefits of deprescribing, highlighting the importance of trusted advice.
For this year's theme, AdPha points out that in an environment where patients are exposed to conflicting, inaccurate or misleading information about medicines, health professionals play a vital role in ensuring decisions about medication use are informed, evidence-based and person-centred.
By starting a conversation with patients around health information they have come across online, pharmacists can take a proactive role in helping patients navigate this complex information environment in support of safe deprescribing.
"Today, in an era where health information - and misinformation - is more accessible than ever, pharmacists play a vital role in helping people navigate conflicting advice and make evidence-based decisions about their medicines," said AdPha president Associate Professor Tom Simpson.
"MedsAware Deprescribing Action Week empowers Australians - along with their carers, families and healthcare teams - to ensure conversations about medicines and treatment decisions are always guided by trusted clinical advice."
Dr Emily Reeve, chair of the Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN), the founding partner of MedsAware Deprescribing Action Week, said the campaign highlights the importance of evidence-based advice when it comes to medicines.
"It's encouraging to see people taking an active interest in their medicines and their health.
"There are some excellent online resources, but with so much information available, it can be hard to know what's trustworthy.
"That's where qualified health professionals make all the difference - helping people navigate the noise and together, make decisions that are safe, effective and right for them," Dr Reeve said.
For examples of conversation starters, visit AdPha's MedsAware hub HERE. KB
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 16 Mar 26
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