The community pharmacist spends a large proportion of their working day responding to symptoms and counselling patients on potential treatment options. A significant portion of this time is spent addressing minor ailments involving the ear, nose and throat.
The aim of this course is to revise the assessment and management of common conditions affecting the ear, nose and throat.
Heart failure is one of the major chronic diseases in Ireland today, it is more common than most cancers and represents a major public health burden. Current data suggest a 2% prevalence of symptomatic heart failure in the Irish population (rising to 10% in those >75 years). Heart failure is reported to account for 5% of all emergency medical admissions, of which 80% are patients >65 years of age.
The aim of this course to provide an update on the current management of heart failure.
As travellers broaden their horizons, pharmacists can also improve their knowledge of the health needs of travellers and how to support their wellbeing. This includes exploring risks that travellers face, from common ailments, such as sunburn and travellers’ diarrhoea to malaria and dengue fever.
The aim of this course is to provide useful information, tools and appropriate resources to provide travel health counselling and advice to patients.
Men aged 50 years and older have a particular set of health issues. Developing communication and engagement strategies with this cohort of patients, as they may not be fully aware of common health issues, is as important as providing information on health issues relevant to them.
The aim of this course is to provide information on factors that may adversely influence the health of men aged 50 and older and outline strategies that can optimise the health of this patient group.
The importance and benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby are well known. The Department of Health and Children and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommend exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first six months. After that, mothers are recommended to continue breastfeeding, in combination with suitably nutritious and safe complementary foods – semi-solid and solid foods – until their children are two years of age or older. Women will frequently need medical care during this time and may require drug therapy for the management of a range of conditions both chronic and acute. Pharmacists have an important role in promoting breastfeeding and in addressing a range of concerns that can occur during that period.
The aim of this course is to provide pharmacists with the information they require to enable them to support breastfeeding in their communities and answer a range of common questions. This course will focus in particular on the safe use of medicines by breastfeeding women.
With the growing number of drugs coming to market and the increasing complexity of drug therapies, the incidence and severity of drug interactions is on the rise. This course will provide an overview of the epidemiology, mechanisms and risk factors for drug interactions.
The aim of this course is to provide an update on how to manage, minimise and report drug interactions.
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) accounts for 90 – 95% of all diabetes, with an asymptomatic phase which may last years. Approximately 15 – 20% of people with T2DM in Ireland may be undiagnosed and it is recognised that the longer a person lives with undiagnosed diabetes, the worse the health outcomes.
The aim of the course is to review the pathophysiology of T2DM and current treatment options for T2DM and the known complications of T2DM.
The outcomes for patients who develop Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) has improved dramatically over the past 25 years, due to the use of Dual Anti Platelet therapy (DAPT) in ACS and more intensive secondary prevention.
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of DAPT in ACS, and secondary prevention guidelines and drug treatment options.
Depression is a very common condition which affects 1 in 10 people at any one time; 450,000 people in Ireland may be affected. Community pharmacists are often the first healthcare professional that patients may discuss concerns or symptoms of depression with.
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of current guidelines on the management of depression, to enhance patient outcomes of this condition.
The HSE states that asthma is the most common chronic respiratory disease in the Republic of Ireland affecting people of all ages and all socio-economic groups. Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma worldwide, and current estimates suggest that approximately 1 in 10 of our population are affected. Asthma is often under-diagnosed and uncontrolled, creating a substantial burden of ill-health to individuals, their families and the economy.
The aim of this course is to review the pathophysiology of asthma, current management guidelines and enhance medicines optimisation in patients with asthma.
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the blood-borne hepatitis C virus. Over time if untreated, it can become a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in the drug treatment of this condition offer a potential cure for patients.
The aim of this course is to provide information on hepatitis C, its transmission and symptoms and current treatment options.