Drug Topics - April 21, 2008 - (Page 7)

7 Of Interest to Students prescription and OTC) ranging from 0 to greater than 10. The most common OTC medications reportedly used in this patient population were analgesics (aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen), iron supplements, and multivitamins. Only 18 patients (45%) reported always reading the label of an OTC medication before taking it. Nearly half of the patients surveyed (19 patients, 47.5%) reported asking a pharmacist or physician before taking OTC medications. These results are similar to those of a national survey (see table at left). Eight patients reported discussing the use of OTC medications with a physician or pharmacist “sometimes.” Of these eight patients, five patients stated they would discuss OTC use in the future, and the remaining three said they may be more likely to as a result of the program. Through this community event, we were able to reach more than 70 patients and provide them with very valuable knowledge regarding OTC medications. In addition, this program also helped to enhance patients’ knowledge about the importance of speaking with their physician or pharmacist prior to using an OTC medication. At the end of the program most patients were either definitely going to speak with their pharmacist prior to future OTC use, or reported being more likely to do so. Most patients also took the educational materials that were offered and therefore walked away with very valuable tools they could use to improve their own safe medication usage, as well as share them with family and friends. This program was also a good learning experience for students. It helped to make them more confident in communicating with and counseling patients about medications, as well as in taking blood pressure. It also made them aware of the value of community events to incorporate into their future pharmacy practice. Thanks to this project, awareness about OTC medication safety was increased within this community. Furthermore, patients learned that pharmacists are available and willing to answer their questions and assist them in selecting the safest and most effective OTC medication. References are available upon request. TEGAN WILLIAMS is a Pharm.D. candidate, JANELLE STIEFEL is a Pharm.D. candidate, DE ANNE HALL is an assistant professor, and K AREN S. PATER is an assistant professor at University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Scholarship helps students get into pharmacy Judy Chi o encourage more students to get into pharmacy, Western Illinois University (WIU) has been awarding a Margaret Stites Pre-Pharmacy Scholarship annually since 2005. The scholarship recipient is selected by WIU’s chemistry department and given $1,000. The scholarship was set up by Jack Stites, R.Ph., in honor of his beloved wife, Margaret, who passed away in 2005. Owner of Stites Pharmacy in Macomb, Ill., for many years, Stites believes strongly in the need to provide assistance to students so they can pursue a career in pharmacy. Having got his start at WIU and met his wife there, he feels that the scholarship is a way to memorialize his wife and thank the school for all that it has done for him. He believes that there are many scholarships available to pharmacy school students, but he doesn't know of any for pre-pharmacy students. “It is my hope that pharmacy will take up the issue of providing assistance to students who are pursuing a pre-pharmacy education,” he told Drug Topics. T Dejan Landup is the recipient of the 2007-2008 Margaret Stites Pre-Pharmacy Scholarship. He is pictured here with Jack Stites, founder of the scholarship.

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Drug Topics - April 21, 2008 Contents The 20 Drug Firms Par Excellence in 2007 Treating Kids with Cough and Cold: Filling the Void Promoting Medication Safety: A Community Outreach Event Scholarship Helps Students Get Into Pharmacy New Products Latest News Roundup

Drug Topics - April 21, 2008

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