Rub shoulders with Kerri Barwick MPS (centre) and other members of team PSA at CPC24[/caption]
This activity is sponsored by Reckitt. All content is the true, accurate and independent opinion of the author and the views expressed are entirely their own.[/caption]
The use of insulin, considered a high-risk medication with APINCHs classification,5 Ms Barwick notes, provides justification for a Home Medicines Review (HMR). ‘There’s an advantage to going into the home to observe the patient’s diet, consider potential interactions, and educate patients on the best effects and outcomes,’ she says.
Advice around cleaning blood glucose level (BGL) monitors to ensure accuracy can also be provided. ‘Pharmacists can explain how to put test drops through and clean blood spills on the monitor, common in pregnancy due to higher blood volume,’ says Ms Barwick.
With only 50% of women diagnosed with GDM receiving tests for heart disease and type 2 diabetes post-pregnancy,6 HMRs can be beneficial at this stage of the journey, too.
‘Along with conversations around diet choices, exercise regimes and sleep, I also explain how often testing is required over the next 5–10 years, and how to monitor for signs of the development of diabetes,’ Ms Barwick advises.
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
The presence of iron in pregnancy multivitamins may exacerbate symptoms of nausea and vomiting in some pregnancies, according to Ms Barwick.
‘Pharmacists can recommend a trial cessation of the iron component of pregnancy vitamins, often unnecessary in pregnancy,’ she says.
In 2020, photographer Bobbi Lockyer created a Birthing on Country project to highlight and create awareness around birthing issues and outcomes in Aboriginal women. For more, see 
Suzanne Nielsen MPS[/caption]
We’ve passed the halfway mark in the CPD year. Top up your credits and develop the most sought-after pharmacy skills by completing these CPD activities.
In a changing social and healthcare landscape – including fears around opioid overdoses, the rise of injectable medicines and new treatments for chronic pain – pharmacists need to keep on top of trends and education to best serve their communities.
AP outlines the most clicked-on CPD articles over the last 12 months and why you should complete them – along with a few other ways to score credits before the CPD year ends.
1. Disposal of Schedule 8 medicines
Did you know that different dose forms of Schedule 8 medicines need to be disposed of in different ways? Or that requirements for authorised witnesses for destruction of Schedule 8 medicines by pharmacists vary per jurisdiction?
All pharmacists must familiarise themselves with local legislation and best practice guidelines for the correct process for disposal of Schedule 8 medicines.
This helpful CPD article summarises environmental and safety considerations, destruction recommendations and considerations for legislative requirements for disposal of Schedule 8 medicines.
2. How to save a life with naloxone
Opioid overdose deaths in Australia have continued to rise. According to Australia’s Annual Overdose Report by the Pennington Institute, unintentional drug overdose deaths have skyrocketed by 71% in 20 years (2001–2021).
Opioids are the drugs most commonly involved in poly-substance deaths (81%).
With experts warning of an impending influx of synthetic opioids into Australia’s illicit drug market and the Take-Home Naloxone program now national – all pharmacists should know how to supply and administer this life-saving medicine.
By undertaking PSA’s How to save a life with naloxone CPD article, pharmacists will learn how to effectively counsel patients on using the medicine, learn the key points of the Take Home Naloxone (THN) program and how to provide support and advice to people who use opioids, their peers, and family – all of which can have a significant impact on reducing the number of lives lost.
3. B12 deficiency
The raft of scope of practice changes that continue to occur across Australian states and territories has meant many pharmacists are able to administer medicines by injection (if suitably trained) – such as intramuscular vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause serious haematological, neurological, and psychiatric problems – early detection and treatment may reverse and minimise harms. This CPD article will help pharmacists identify and refer patients with possible deficiency, advise on suitable treatments, and know when administration of intramuscular vitamin B12 treatment is appropriate.
4. Cannabis drug interactions
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates 600,000 Australians use cannabis for medicinal purposes. This is a dramatic uptick from the 2,560 medicinal cannabis prescriptions approved through Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) Special Access Scheme (SAS) in 2018. In fact, last year there were 132,000 SAS-B applications approved by the TGA from 2,565 medical practitioners.
This CPD article explains the common mechanisms whereby medicinal cannabis may interact with other medicines, and the role of the pharmacist in reviewing and identifying these interactions.
5. Immediate-release melatonin for jet lag
Melatonin is now a schedule 3 medicine for Australians aged 55 years of age or older with primary insomnia with poor sleep quality, and for those aged 18 or older to treat jet lag.
But do you know when melatonin should be taken to stave off jet lag, or its potential adverse effects and drug interactions? There are also several non-pharmacological options to treat jet lag that pharmacists should also be across. Pharmacists can access all this information and more in PSA’s Immediate-release melatonin for jet lag article.
How else can I gain CPD credits?
Prefer to rack up your CPD credits in other ways? If networking with other healthcare professionals while gaining knowledge from the industry’s top thought leaders is more your thing, AP has rounded up the top up-coming conferences to attend:
- CPC24 – it’s not too late to secure tickets to CPC24, held in Cairns from 3–5 May 2024. This conference is applicable to credentialed and non-credentialed pharmacists looking to advance their practice.
- PSA24 – missed the advanced early bird rego for PSA’s flagship conference? There’s still a chance to secure discounted tickets for PSA24, held for the first time at Sydney’s mammoth International Convention Centre, with early bird registration extended until 11:59 pm on May 26, 2024.
- 48th Offshore Refresher Conference – soak up some sun and pharmacy knowledge in Spain before winter hits at PSA’s offshore conference, held from 7–15 May 2024.
- Annual Therapeutic Updates – if it’s local practice insights you’re after, don’t miss the last of this year’s ATU’s, still to come in VIC/TAS (31 May–2 June 2024 in Hobart), WA (11–12 October 2024 in Perth, super early bird registrations open 29 July 2024) and QLD (19–20 October 2024 in Brisbane, super early bird registrations open 5 August 2024).
More bang for your buck
These CPD activities are all worth up to 10 Group 2 CPD points and are available to complete now!
