Features

NPC launches interactive prescribing and medicines management resource

A novel online interactive learning resource, NPCi, aimed at NHS health care professionals and managers, has been launched by the National Prescribing Centre.

According to Steve Morris, director of strategic development and operations at the NPC, despite significant efforts, there is patchy implementation of evidence and often a lack of access to high quality education and materials on therapeutics and medicines management.

“The philosophy behind the development of NPCi is to provide a web-based resource that delivers information in bite-sized chunks. This means manageable amounts of the best evidence summarised and information on the most common topics and situations you encounter most often in your everyday practice, regardless of your professional background [is available],” he explained.

The interface and graphics of NPCi take the form of a virtual building. On “entering” the building, users are greeted by a receptionist. They can then take a lift to different floors in the building, each representing a different theme. Some of the broad themes are detailed in the Panel (below).

There are a number of rooms on each floor, providing access to different learning materials to cater for different personal learning styles and preferences. On each floor, users can:

• Listen to a workshop presentation on a therapeutics or medicines management topic

• Test their knowledge with interactive quizzes and case studies

• Review data-focused commentaries on the latest prescribing data to illustrate how evidence is or is not being used in practice

• Solve a clinical or medicines management issue by searching the library of summaries of evidence and best practice

• Use downloadable patient decision aids to help explain key therapeutic messages to patients

• Download a variety of implementation and service improvement tools

• Download slides to be used in discussions

In addition, the NPCi site provides regular blogs and downloadable podcasts on “hot topics” and an active discussion forum.

“NPCi incorporates a dynamic and engaging interface that enables users to access high quality evidence-based, up-to-date educational materials and resources relating to prescribing and medicines management. Its unique navigational approach enables users to locate the resources they need in a user-friendly and intuitive format,” Mr Morris said.

Content

The NPC hopes that, when the content is complete, NPCi will contain one of the largest collections of free online educational resources relating to prescribing and medicines management in the UK. The aim is to provide more than 70 floors with individual topics.

The NPC is continuing to produce and edit content that will be added to the site, but would value comments from users so that adjustments can be made to the site before a launch of the next major update in early 2008.

NPCi is available at www.npci.org.uk. Access is free and open to anyone with an internet connection. Feedback on the resource can be given through an online form.