Multiple medications hub
June 6, 2014
NPS MedicineWise has launched
a new web resource designed to
support people living with multiple
medications.
The ‘Living with multiple
medicines hub’ investigates the
lives of people who take multiple
medications, providing some 300
videos, audio clips and quotes of
people’s own experiences.
NPS MedicineWise spokesperson
and manager of NPS Medicines
Line Sarah Spagnardi said the
videos and content would allow
consumers to relate to others
in similar situations and engage
in decision making about their
medicines and health.
“We also encourage health
professionals to explore the new
web resource to help them get
a better understanding of the
experience of living with multiple
medicines.”
Presenting on the project
methodology at the recent National
Medicines Symposium 2014, Dr
Lorraine Smith from the University
of Sydney said that people with
health problems wanted high
quality information and support to
provide answers to their questions.
“It’s important for people to
be able to tap into the lived
experience, to relate to others’
experiences, make decisions
about their health management
and communicate effectively with
health professionals.”
This is the first project using the
DIPEx method to look at medicines
independent of a particular medical
condition and was undertaken in
conjunction with the University of
Sydney, La Trobe University and
Monash University.
Australian Commission on
Safety and Quality in Health Care
pharmaceutical advisor Margaret
Duguid said the website was very
useful for people taking multiple
medications and quite innovative.
Using patients’ stories was an
excellent way to get messages
across, she said, and people who
knew more about their health and
medication were less likely to suffer
from adverse events.
About 20 to 30% of hospital
admissions for people aged 65
and over were thought to be
medication related, she said, so the
website could help people most at
risk using multiple medications.
CLICK HERE to access it.
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