Shaping the future of self-care through pharmacy

“Shaping the future of self-care through pharmacy” programme

Health and self-care literacy for the management of minor ailments in the pharmacy 

Empowering patient self-care improves health outcomes and reduces the burden of diseases. Improving health and self-care literacy is key to empowering pharmacy-based self-care. This is especially important when it comes to the management of minor ailments through pharmacy. Consisting of a series of five events focusing on common health issues, this new FIP digital programme aims to examine how pharmacists can be enabled to improve health and self-care literacy. Approaches for each of the five areas of minor ailments will be discussed including embedding health and self-care literacy into education and training, developing self-diagnosis and self-medication protocols, widening access to patient information, and improving referral strategies. 

Reflux management in the community

25 January 2023

Pharmacists have an important role in supporting the management of minor ailments in the community and promoting informed and responsible self-care. Gastroesophageal reflux is a common reason for consultations to community pharmacists, and symptoms associated with reflux can often be managed through non-prescription medicines. Pharmacists can assess and provide advice on both the pharmacological and non-pharmacological options that patients might follow, check for possible interactions with medication that patients might be taking, and provide education for improved self-care.

Attendees will learn about:

1. The resources FIP developed on reflux management
2. Understand the main therapeutic options to support relief of reflux-like symptoms
3. Explore pharmacists’ perspectives of reflux management

Moderator:
- Luís Lourenço, FIP Professional Secretary FIP, Portugal

Panellists:
- Rúben Viegas, Practice Development and Transformation, Projects Coordinator FIP, The Netherlands
- Kai Zhen Yap, Lecturer, National University of Singapore, Department of Pharmacy, Singapore
- Ana Zovko, Member of the ExCo of CPS of the FIP, Owner and director , Pharmacy institution Afarm, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Pali Hungin, Emeritus professor, Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
- Peter Kahrilas, Professor of medicine,, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, USA