Appendix E Aid 1: Sample Event Poster Medication Safety Presentation Do YOU know your role on the healthcare team? Do YOU know the questions to ask your pharmacist? Do YOU know safe medication practices? Learn about all of these topics and more! When: at a.m./p.m. Where: Who should attend: To register, please call or e-mail
Appendix E Aid 2: Participant Sign- in Sheet Participant Sign-in Sheet Date: Location: Leader: Name (Please Print) Phone Number E-Mail Address (optional)
Appendix E Aid 3: Medication Safety Quiz Medication Safety Quiz Do I Use Medications Safely? Handout for warm-up, individual or group activity Instructions: Check all that are correct 1. What is your role on the healthcare team? a) Sit back and listen b) Work with healthcare team c) Ask questions when information is not clear d) Never question the healthcare provider 2. What information do you need to know about your medication? a) What medication you are taking b) How you are taking your medication c) Why you are taking your medication 3. Do you 1. Share your prescription medication with friends or family? Yes No 2. Clean out your medicine cabinet? 3. Report any harm caused by medicines? 4. Check your prescription to make sure your name, medication, dose and route of taking the medication is correct? 5. Complete the It s Safe to Ask Medication Card? 6. Show your up-to-date medication card to your doctor, nurse, and pharmacist? 7. Tell your family member where you keep your medication card? 8. Have an E.R.I.K.? (Emergency Response Information Kit)
Appendix E Aid 4: MIPS It s Safe to Ask Safe Use of Medications Safe Use of Medications It s Safe to Ask What is my health problem? Ask questions if you do not understand the medical terms used. Ask if there are any pictures or pamphlets to more clearly explain your health problem. Ask how this health problem will affect your daily activities. Ask where you may find more information on your health problem. Ask how the medications will help. What do I need to do? Ask what medications you should be taking. Ask why you are taking your medications. Ask how and when to take your medications. Ask what the side effects are of your medications. Ask how to store your medications. Keep an up to date list of all medications that you take. Include all prescriptions, over the counter medications, herbal medicine and vitamins. Keep all medications in their original containers. Know what your medications look like. Do not share your medications with other people. Ask - Do I need a bubble pack to keep track of my medications? Store your medications in a dark, dry place at room temperature. When a medication is no longer needed, take it back to the pharmacy so they can safely destroy it. Keep all medications out of the reach of children. If you take a medicine regularly, ask your pharmacist about refills. Make sure you go to the pharmacy to get more before you run out. Try to go the same pharmacy for your medication needs. Why do I need to do this? It s good for your health. Asking questions about your medications and keeping an up to date list of them will help you to know: o What you are taking, o Why you are taking it, o When to take it, o How to take it. April 2012 Available in English and French at www.safetoask.ca
When writing out your list of medications, ask yourself: Allergies Prescription Medications Non-prescription Medications Do you have an allergy to or avoid What prescription What non-prescription any medications due to side effects? medications do you take? over-the-counter What type of reaction do you have? How much? medications do you take? Contact your pharmacist or doctor for How often? How much? advice if you have a side effect to a Start date? Stop date? How often? medication. Reason for taking? Start date? Stop date? You can report side effects to the Who prescribed? Reason for taking? Canada Vigilance program toll free at 1-866-234-2345, by fax at 1-866-678-6789 or on line www.healthcanada.gc.ca/arronline My Specific Medication Questions Herbal Medicine & Supplements What herbal, natural or homeopathic remedies do you take? What vitamins or minerals do you take? How much? How often? Start date? Stop date? Reason for taking? Health Care Providers Answers August 2012 Available in English and French at www.safetoask.ca
Appendix E Aid 5: Learn to Read Your Prescription Try to label the letters A through I on the following prescription. Use the list of commonly used abbreviations to assist in understanding G. See next page for answers. Dr. Jane Doe A Local Clinic 123 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R1R 1R1 Ph. (204) 123-4567 B Name of Patient: John Smith Age: 10 D Address: 456 Main Street, Winnipeg MB Date: January 3, 2013 C E G F Rx Amoxil (amoxicillin) 400 mg chewable tabs Mitte: 56 Sig: Chew 2 tablets po bid x 14 days for ear infection H I Refills: 0 Signature: Jane Doe 12-345 Common Abbreviation Meaning on the prescription ac/pc Before meals/after meals hs At bedtime prn As needed qd* Every day, daily bid Twice a day tid Three times a day qid Four times a day qod/eod** Every other day gtt Drops (as in 1 drop, 2 drops, and so on) ou/os/od*** Both eyes, left eye, right eye au/as/ad Both ears, left ear, right ear po By mouth sl Sublingual sc/sq Subcutaneous D/C Discharge U Units ug Microgram cc Cubic centimeter *The abbreviation qd is considered dangerous. It should not be used because it has been mistaken as qid frequently. **The abbreviations qod/eod should not be used as it has been mistaken for qd or qid. ***Sometimes, od is used to mean once daily. The word daily should be used to prevent mistakes.
Appendix E Aid 5: Answers A: Doctor's information. Most prescriptions will have the doctor's name, address, telephone number, and medical license number. This helps the patient and pharmacist know where to call if there are questions. B: Patient information. The patient s name must be included on the prescription for it to be valid. Patient age, birth date and address may also be included, but are not necessary. C: Date. The doctor is required to include the date on which the prescription was signed. D: Rx. This is the symbol used for prescription. E: Medication name and strength. This is where the doctor writes the name of the medication and the strength prescribed. Writing both the brand and generic names is helpful to the pharmacist so that the medication prescribed is less likely to be misread as another medication with a similar name. F: Mitte. A latin word for send, or give. This is how the pharmacist knows how much of the medication to dispense. G: Sig. This is an abbreviation for the instructions on how to take or use the medication. These are the directions the pharmacist will place on the label that goes on the medication. Many times, additional abbreviations are used to describe when and how to take or use the medication. H: Indication. The person prescribing is not required to add this information. This information helps the pharmacist avoid misreading the prescribed medication as a different medication with a similar name. Medications with similar names are often used to treat different conditions. I: Refills. In this section, the doctor will tell the pharmacist how many times the prescription can be refilled before a new prescription is needed by the prescriber.
Appendix E Aid 6: Learn to Read Your Prescription Label This is an example of a prescription label. Sometimes the information may be in a different place on the prescription. A B C G H MANITOBA Pharmacy 456 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R1R 1R1 Canada Store # 0001 Phone: (204)-234-5678 Rx# 1234 Ref: 0 Dr. Doe John Smith TAKE 1 CAPSULE THREE TIMES DAILY UNTIL FINISHED (ANTIBIOTIC) APO-AMOXI 500MG AMOXICILLIN 500MG APX RED/YEL/ELLIP/APO{500} 00628123 30 CAP 3 Jan 2013 Total: 21.43 D AB F E I J K L 1. Try to label the letters A through L on the following prescription label, or fill in the questions below. See next page for answers. 2. Questions Using the sample label, answer the following questions. 1. What is the name of the pharmacy? 8. What is the name of the medication or main ingredient? 2. What is the store number of the pharmacy? 9. What is the strength of the medication? 3. What is the prescription number? 10. What does the number listed below the APX mean? 4. What is the doctor s name? 11. How many pills are in the container? 5. What is the date that the prescription was filled? 6. Who is the prescription for? 7. What is the brand name of the prescription? 12. What are the directions for taking the medication?
Appendix E Aid 6: Answers 1. Labels A. Pharmacy name and information G. Brand name of medication B. Prescription Number (unique identifier specific only to that prescription) H. Name of medication or main ingredient and strength C. Patient Name I. Amount of pills in container D. Number of refills remaining J. Date filled E. Name of prescriber K. Price F. Directions L. Drug Identification (DIN) 2. Answers to questions 1. Manitoba Pharmacy 2. Number 0001 3. Rx1234 4. Dr. Doe 5. January 3, 2013 6. John Smith 7. APO-AMOXI 8. Amoxicillin 9. 500 mg 10. Drug identification number 11. 30 12. Take 1 capsule, 3 times a day (total of 3 a day)
Appendix E Aid 7: What are Auxiliary Labels? What are Auxiliary Labels? Auxiliary labels are stickers used to remind people of important information about their medicines. They should become familiar with the stickers so they know what they mean when they see them on their medication container. Certain medications may alter the effectiveness of birth control pills. Some medications can lessen the effectiveness of birth control pills. A back up method of birth control should be used. Consult with the pharmacist, physician or nurse for a more detailed explanation, including how long back up birth control is necessary. Do not chew or crush. Swallow whole. Some tablets and capsules have a protective coating that allows the medication to be released slowly. Crushing or chewing the protective coating will destroy it and all of the medication will be released at once, which can be harmful. Do not drink milk or eat dairy products. Calcium, antacids and iron can lessen the amount some medications are absorbed into the body. To avoid this, medication should be taken at least 1 hour before or after these products. Dairy products and multivitamins contain calcium. Iron supplements, multivitamins and certain foods can contain iron. Do not eat grapefruit. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with certain medications, affecting the level of medication in the body. While on these medications, it is best to avoid eating grapefruit or drinking grapefruit juice. Finish all this medication. For some medications, it is important to finish the whole prescription, especially for antibiotics.
May cause drowsiness. Some medications can cause drowsiness and may make driving a car or working with heavy machinery dangerous. Alcohol can make these effects worse. Medication should be taken with plenty of water. Drink at least a full glass of water with medication or right after taking it. Water can help the medication to be absorbed into the body and can help prevent side effects like irritation to the throat. Rinse mouth thoroughly after each use. When using an inhaler, not all of the medication particles are inhaled directly into the lungs, even if the correct technique for inhaling is used. Some of the medication particles can remain in the mouth and throat. With certain inhalers, this can result in an infection. Patients should rinse their mouth after each use to help to prevent this from happening. Take with food. Take medication with a meal or a snack. Food can help certain medications be absorbed into the body better or taking medications with food can help prevent side effects like stomach upset and nausea. Take medication on an empty stomach. Some medications are better absorbed into the body when taken on an empty stomach. It is recommended to take these medications at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating. Source: What the extra stickers (auxiliary labels) mean on my medicine containers (vials, boxes). Found at: www.knowledgeisthebestmedicine.org
Appendix E Aid 8 : Participant Evaluation Form Participant Evaluation Form Topic(s): Date: Leader: Location: Please check ( ) responses that reflect your opinions: Statements The presentation was helpful. Strongly Agree 1 Agree 2 Disagree 3 Strongly Disagree 4 I am now more aware of how I can be actively involved in my care decisions. What content was most useful? What content was least useful? Why? General Comments: Please leave this form with the presenter. Thank you for your feedback!
Appendix E Aid 9: Presenter Log and Feedback Form Instructions: Please complete the log. Please rate ( ) your opinions of the materials. Please fax this form to MIPS at: 1-204-779-6477. Thank you! Session Topics Date dd/mm/yy Locations Number Attendees Please record summary of responses. 1-strongly agree 2-agree 3-disagree 4-strongly disagree The presentation was helpful. I am more aware how to get involved. The presentation was helpful. I am more aware how to get involved. The presentation was helpful. I am more aware how to get involved. The presentation was helpful I am more aware how to get involved. The presentation was helpful. I am more aware how to get involved. The presentation was helpful. I am more aware how to get involved. Parts of Learn to be Safe Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor Additional Comments Medication Safety Core Content and Supporting Documents tables PowerPoint Slides Appendix A Pointers for Presenters Appendix B Patient Stories Appendix C Patient/Family Engagement Tools Appendix D Supplemental Topics Appendix E Presentation Aids Leader Name: Phone: Location: Email: