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Overview

This subject explores the issues relating to the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) in older people. The topic provides an overview of Australia's National Medicines Policy and explores some of the primary supports in place to action this policy: the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction … For more content click the Read More button below.

Aims

This topic aims to:

  • Introduce students to the framework in which medicines are used in Australia and how this can create issues in an ageing population
  • Promote a better understanding of medication use in the elderly

Students will examine the physiology of ageing, adverse drug events and medication safety through the lens of polypharmacy. There will be a need to at least consider complementary and alternative medicines too and develop some understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and the Australian drug regulatory system.

Students will be able to see the value of medications to our contemporary society and be better prepared to be part of a system striving to improve its outcomes.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Recognise the range of substances that can be grouped as medicines
2.
Understand the four functions of the Australian National Medicines Policy
3.
Describe the principles that guide the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM)
4.
Understand the processes involved in registering a prescription medicine on the Australian market and the implications of 'off-label' use of medicines
5.
Describe the differences between a side effect, allergy and intolerance
6.
Understand the function of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in improving access to medicines for all Australians

Requisites information

Pre-requisites:

Assumed knowledge

Familiarity in the use of literature and accessing relevant data bases including OVID Medline, CINAHL, PubMed and any others appropriate to the area of study.