Medication Management Revision PDF

**[Medication Management Revision]** 1. **[Know what P, GSL, POM, OTC stands for as far as categories of drugs]** **P=** Pharmacy Only Medicine (These are medicines that can only be dispensed by a **pharmacist**, but **without a prescription**) **GSL=** General Sales list (These are **over t...

**[Medication Management Revision]** 1. **[Know what P, GSL, POM, OTC stands for as far as categories of drugs]** **P=** Pharmacy Only Medicine (These are medicines that can only be dispensed by a **pharmacist**, but **without a prescription**) **GSL=** General Sales list (These are **over the counter (OTC) drugs** that can be bought without any restrictions and are available in a variety of retail settings, including supermarkets and corner shops) **POM=** Prescription only medicine (These are medications that can only be dispensed with a **prescription from a healthcare provider**, such as a doctor or nurse practitioner) **OTC=** Over the counter (These are **medications that can be purchased directly from pharmacies or retail stores without a prescription**.) 2. **[Know the abbreviations for routes of drugs -- eg PR, PO, SL, INH, IM, SC etc]** 3. **[Know the legal authorities which allow you to administer a drug -- PSD, PGD, Prescription or national\ protocol. Know that you cannot administer a medication through any other order -- ie not a verbal\ order.]** - **PSD**= Patient Specific direction (Written instructions for a specific patient from a prescriber (e.g., doctor) - **PGD**: Patient group direction (A general written direction for a group of patients that allows healthcare professionals to administer medications without individual prescriptions. - **Prescription**: (A written order from an authorized prescriber for a specific patient) - National **Protocol**: (Nationally approved guidelines for administering medications in public health programs or specific clinical settings) - **No Verbal Orders**: (Medications must not be administered based on verbal orders; they require written authorization) 4. **[Know that a 16-year-old can consent to treatment.]** - A 16-year-old can consent to treatment on their own if they are assessed as being competent to understand the treatment. - Parental consent is not required for most treatments once the person is 16 or older. - Gillick competency principle should be considered when assessing competence 5. **[Know the % of non-adherence to medication as per the WHO -- i.e. -- 50%]** - According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of patients with chronic conditions do not adhere to prescribed medication regimens.  - Could be due to factors such as **cost, mental health conditions, side effects, lack of understanding**. 6. **[Know what can contribute to drug errors -- human error, poor communication, staffing levels, lack of\ training etc.]** - **Human Error** (fatigue and stress, distraction, lack of attention or focus) - **Poor communication** (Miscommunication between health care providers, verbal orders, hand-offs) - **Staffing levels** (understaffing, overworked staff) - **Lack of training** (Inadequate education on drug interactions and side effects, insufficient clinical experience) - **Environmental factors** (Busy high-pressure environments, inadequate space or equipment) - **Patient factors** (non-adherence and self-medication) 7. **[Know the abbreviations for the timings of drugs -- OD/ BD/ TDS/ QDS]** 8. **[Know the 5 rights serve as a framework to minimise the risk of medication errors]** 1. **Right patient** 2. **Right medication** 3. **Right dose** 4. **Right time** 5. **Right route** **Each of these rights act as a framework to minimise the risk of medication errors!** 9. **[Know how control drugs should be stored.]** - Controlled drugs (CDs) are substances that are regulated by law due to their potential for abuse or addiction. These drugs require special care in storage to ensure they are kept safe from theft, misuse, or accidental ingestion, while also ensuring that they remain effective for medical use. The exact requirements for storing controlled drugs vary slightly depending on the jurisdiction, but the following general guidelines apply in most healthcare settings: - **Secure storage** (locked cabinet or safe) - **Separate storage** (kept in the storage unit in a designated area) - **Temperature** (most medications need to be at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, no extreme conditions, and some may need to be refrigerated) 10. **[Know that antibiotics are not general sales items, therefore cannot be bought from a supermarket.]** - Antibiotics are classified as prescription-only medications in most countries, meaning they cannot be sold over the counter or in supermarkets. This is to ensure that they are used properly under medical supervision to prevent misuse, overuse, and the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. - Using antibiotics without prescription can be dangerous because it could lead to **incorrect dosage, antibiotic resistance and certain side effects and interactions.** 11. **[Know that the book that is produced by the British Medical association and the Royal\ pharmaceutical society which contains the lists of drugs is called the BNF]** - **The BNF (British National Formulary) is produced by the British medical association and the royal pharmaceutical society which contains the lists of drugs including information about their uses, side effects, dosage, and contradictions. It is crucial for healthcare professionals as they use this in practice.** - **The BNF also includes updates regularly on new medications, changes in guidelines, and the latest evidence about drug safety and efficiency.**