Progress in practice - The UKCPA autumn symposium was held in Blackpool on November 19-21, 1999
Providing information to the patient was highlighted by Mr STEVE McGLYNN (Western Infirmary, Glasgow) and Mrs EVE KNIGHT (British Cardiac Patients Association [BCPA]). The impact of drug therapy, of lifestyle changes and quality of life were all important issues, they said.
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Eve Knight: give patients credit for understanding medical information |
Mrs Knight described the role of the BCPA. It was a voluntary organisation that provided a support mechanism for patients through a telephone helpline, leaflets, a bimonthly newsletter and support group meetings throughout the country. It did not undertake research. The most popular telephone query was about the side effects of antihypertensives, she said.
Primary prevention of coronary heart disease was an area where Mrs Knight thought that community pharmacists could play a role. First, they could measure blood pressure and encourage people to have their levels checked regularly. Pharmacists could also play a greater role in encouraging people to continue taking medication for hypertension. Many people stopped taking such medicines after six months, often because of the lack of symptoms with hypertension but also because they thought they were cured, so pharmacists could help prevent these misconceptions by speaking to patients. The pharmacy was an ideal place for all sorts of monitoring, said Mrs Knight. Through blood pressure, INR, weight and cholesterol monitoring in pharmacies, patients would be able to monitor themselves, which would increase concordance by "demedicalising" the procedures.
People needed access to support and information about diseases, said Mrs Knight. Professionals assumed that everyone had access to the internet, which was not true. Other sources were also needed. People wanted detailed information. They should be given more credit for understanding medical information, she said. Discussing patient information leaflets, Mrs Knight thought it would be beneficial if the patient could read them at an earlier stage, with the GP or pharmacist, so that they could be given an opportunity to talk about their concerns at that stage.