Counselling guide for non-prescription medicines

7  June 2012

Counselling of patients within the pharmacy setting is an increasingly important role for pharmacists as the emphasis on advice and provision of professional services gathers momentum.

To help pharmacists provide the best possible advice when talking to customers and patients about non-prescription medicines, PSA has published a new reference work, Non-Prescription Medicines in the Pharmacy: A guide to advice and treatment.

This reference book is a practical guide to the counselling advice that should be given when selling non-prescription and complementary medicines. It is an ideal resource to use when providing training for pharmacy assistants and students which can help them in advising on self care strategies for minor illnesses.

Some of the topics covered in Non-Prescription Medicines in the Pharmacy include:

• anti-inflammatory pain relievers
• eye drops
• nicotine replacement therapy
• complementary medicines

National President of PSA, Grant Kardachi, said the importance of counselling made the reference book invaluable.

“More and more people who come into pharmacies require counselling and advice when buying medicines and it is critical that such information is up to date, relevant and accurate,” Mr Kardachi said.

“Every pharmacist should have a copy of Non-Prescription Medicines in the Pharmacy to complement their existing skills base.”

In addition to Non-Prescription Medicines in the Pharmacy, Shelf Talker kits are available to prompt consumers to check with the pharmacist about the safe and effective use of medicines.  These shelf talkers can be displayed with products that frequently require professional advice.

Non-Prescription Medicines in the Pharmacy and the Shelf Talker Kits are available through www.psa.org.au

MEDIA CONTACT:                Peter Waterman         0487 922 176