MARKING National Asthma Awareness Week (01-07 Sep), the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has launched updated treatment guidelines for pharmacists supplying salbutamol and terbutaline inhalers to patients suffering from asthma.
The updated treatment guidelines reflect the new Professional Practice Standards and include updated information about over-reliance on short-acting beta2-agonists (SABA) (PD 10 Aug).
PSA National President Dr Fei Sim said pharmacists have an increasingly important role to play in supporting patients to move away from relievers to preventers.
"Around 2.7m or 11% of Australians suffer from asthma, with PBS data indicating a growing reliance on relievers as treatment," Sim said.
"Over-reliance on SABAs increases the risk of severe asthma flare-ups and reduces the effectiveness of emergency treatments.
"The updated treatment guidelines support pharmacists to identify when it is appropriate to supply reliever inhalers to patients, and when their asthma may not be appropriately controlled.
"The guidelines reinforce the importance of checking asthma symptom control, adherence, and inhaler technique every time.
"As the most accessible of healthcare practitioners, community pharmacists are well placed to play a greater role in patient education and awareness of asthma-related harms, identify opportunities for clinical intervention and improve the safe and effective use of inhalers.
"When undertaking complex medication reviews, credentialled pharmacists are also best placed to make recommendations to optimise the use of treatments and management of asthma.
The PSA is urging all pharmacists to familiarise themselves with the updated guidelines, available HERE.
MEANWHILE, with Women's Health Week (04-08 Sep) also in focus, the PSA has launched the NSW - Contraception Essentials training as onboarding begins for the next stage of the NSW Pharmacy Trial.
The statewide trial, run by the University of Newcastle, authorises pharmacists participating in the trial to continue a prescription for the resupply of certain oral contraceptives for eligible women aged from 18 to 35 years.
PSA New South Wales President Luke Kelly urged pharmacists to complete their training with PSA ahead of the trial's start date.
"PSA has developed a full training course tailored to the NSW oral contraceptive trial, arming pharmacists with the latest clinical information and giving them the skills and knowledge for the continuation of contraception," Kelly explained.
NSW Pharmacists can enrol in the NSW - Contraception Essentials training program, HERE. JG
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 08 Sep 23
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