Using Medicines (or medicines refresher) This is a training standard developed for the National Training Service (NTS) Alliance. This standard has been written in consultation with subject matter experts. This standard is not designed to be prescriptive of how, when or in what format training is delivered although, some guidelines are included. The purpose of the standard is to provide benchmarks for knowledge and skill to ensure that we achieve consistent training outcomes throughout the sector.
Training Standard: Using Medicines (or medicines refresher) The following information outlines benchmarks or competencies related to stop smoking medicines for those working in roles linked to providing smoking cessation guidance and/or support. An overview of the context is described and the standards follow. What: The need for medicines standards Who: The intended audience. Practitioners need to inform clients of all medicines related to cessation and know how the client can access them. They should also be able to answer questions on other nicotine delivery systems that people may be using or wanting to use. Health professionals who are presented with clients who smoke and need to offer cessation support. Stop Smoking Service Practitioners. Quitcard providers. Where: The location of services. All Health practitioners need to offer high quality stop smoking support in all settings where clients present as current smokers. This may include: General Practices, Health lines, Hospital settings, Allied Health, Wellchild service, mental health services, student health services, pharmacies, occupational health services, public health settings - 2
When: The time the services are offered. How: The way the sessions are delivered. Health professionals need to systematically assess smoking status and provide cessation advice and support whenever working with clients who smoke At the point of contact, systematically and ongoing at each and every contact opportunity. Clients who smoke need to be advised to stop smoking and offered clinically effective guidance and treatment to stop smoking. Information about medicines may be offered: Face to face, by electronic message or by telephone at the point of contact KNOWLEDGE: The person providing smoking cessation medicine information is able to correctly: Identify all stop-smoking medicines o Nicotine patches o Nicotine gum o Nicotine lozenge o Nicotine inhalator o Nicotine mouth spray o Varenicline (Champix) o Bupropion (Zyban) o Nortriptyline In the future this may include: o Nicotine oral strips Describe the benefits of using stop-smoking medicines. Describe how each stop-smoking medicine is used. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each approved stop-smoking medicine. Describe the side effects from each medicine and how they are managed Discuss medication options for each individual and 3
continued whether a GP should be involved. Describe the correct procedures for administration and management of medicines Describe health and safety issues related to the medicine as needed (e.g. storage, overdose, if children or pets get the meds etc.) Describe new emerging products and their advantages and disadvantages. Emerging products include: o E cigarettes SKILLS The person providing smoking cessation services is able to correctly: Engage with individuals from all cultures and all walks of life Inform clients of all the medicine options: o o Pros and cons of each Those that align best with their needs Engage clients in shared decision making in choosing a stop-smoking medicine Advise clients of how to efficiently source medicines Advise clients of how to correctly use the medicines, get the best out of the medicines and check each client completely understands (i.e. not just give a brochure or ask. Do you understand ) Use language and terminology suited to the client s age and requirements Supply the medicines (in the case of subsidised NRT) or refer to the GP to prescribe medicines Determine which practitioners or services are allowed to provide which medicines (e.g. GP versus Phone service vs. face to face practitioner) 4
Existing training: Considerations: Current training includes: On line ABC training at learnonline.health.nz Larger organisations offer in-house training to their practitioners. Quitline, for example, delivers NRT training linked to policies, procedures and dosing regimes for NRT and Quitcards. Other organisations have similar training to align with their processes and policies. Some pharmaceutical companies provide web-based or inhouse training for organisations e.g. Pfizer provides ad hoc training for health care providers for Champix. Practitioners from organisations that cannot prescribe prescription stop smoking medicines may prefer to talk only about NRT (which they can supply). Training and assessment consideration: Trainers must insure that practitioners can give information to clients on all stop-smoking medicines, and where a prescription medicine may be the best option they should support their client to access these. Training must include the assessment of learning. This could be achieved by: A series of short online modules with in-depth self marking questions as a form of assessment. This would present specific client scenarios to the trainee and they would need to prove the depth of their knowledge through a series of questions and answers Face to face training with realistic role plays where trainees are given the opportunity to practice the knowledge and skills learned through the training. 5