A consultation document about quality care in dermatology could identify opportunities
for pharmacists.
A steering group behind the project, which is calling for evidence of existing
primary care initiatives that demonstrate benefits for patients with acne, eczema
or psoriasis, includes Miss Christine Clark, MRPharmS.
The thinking behind an initiative in dermatology, supported by Leo Pharmaceuticals,
is that a good medicine does not guarantee effective treatment; patients need
additional advice, information and adjustment of treatment to get the best effects.
“The steering group recognised that community pharmacists could play a
major role in this area, particularly in helping the large numbers of patients
with skin complaints that never visit general medical practitioners,” Miss
Clark told The Journal recently.
“I think it will be important for future projects to involve community
pharmacists as part of the team from day one so that they can reinforce the
messages that patients are getting in the clinic. It is also important that
they are seen by patients to be working alongside other members of the health
care team.”
Miss Clark said that the steering group had been told that most eczema treatment
failures were due to lack of use stemming from lack of knowledge about how to
use products effectively. The problems were particularly bad for young children
where there was a major impact on the whole family and for the elderly who might
experience practical difficulties with the application of topical treatments.
Prescribers did not have time to explain everything about dermatological treatments,
but the problem could be remedied by easy and quick access to suitably trained
personnel. These might be specialist nurses or community pharmacists.
The group had also heard about a six-month project to assess the impact of a
nurse-led psoriasis clinic open to all practices within a local primary care
group. Patients were seen on three occasions and consultations were focused
on education and demonstrations of how to use the prescribed treatments. As
patients became more empowered they started to manage their own condition more
effectively. Local community pharmacists had been involved in publicising the
project to patients.
The steering group comprises representatives of the British Dermatology Nursing
Group, the British Medical Association, the National Health Service PCG Alliance,
the Primary Care Dermatology Society, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the
Skin Care Campaign. Pharmacists who have experience of initiatives to improve
outcomes among patients with dermatological complaints and who would like to
contribute evidence can telephone 020 7240 6005 and ask for the steering group
guidelines.