Quality Use of Medicines

More than 70% of Australians use medicines at any one time and around 140,000 visits to hospitals each year are medicines related, many due to a lack of information about the Quality Use of Medicines.

Medicines information for seniors

COTA, in partnership with NPS: Better choices, Better health, delivers free information sessions to Australian seniors, to help you get the best out of your medicines.

Independent, not-for-profit and evidence based, NPS enables better decisions about medicines and medical tests. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

NPS produces free resources to help you with your medicines, including:

  • Medicines List: The Medicines List is a handy tool you can use to record the medicines you take. Keep your medicines list up-to-date and bring it with you when you visit the doctor. Some of the most important things you need to know — what your medicine is for, how much to use and when to use it — are on the medicines list.
  • Medicines Line- 1300 633 424: NPS collaborates with healthdirect Australia to deliver Medicines Line, a telephone service providing consumers with information on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary medicines. Call Medicines Line on 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local phone call (calls from mobiles may cost more). This service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm EST (excluding NSW public holidays).
  • Sleep quiz: How well do you sleep? Take the quiz* on the NPS website to learn about the quality of your sleep. You can use the results from the sleep quiz to discuss any concerns with your doctor. Visit www.nps.org.au/sleep for some useful tips to help you get to sleep – and stay asleep.
  • MedicinesTalk: Written by consumers for consumers, MedicinesTalk is a free quarterly newsletter that gives you reliable, accurate information and useful hints on managing your medicines.
  • Be MedicineWise flyer: It can be a challenge to keep track of everything you need to know about your medicines and what to discuss with your doctor or pharmacist. NPS has developed the Be MedicineWise flyer to remind you of the things you can do to learn about, discuss and manage your health and medicines. Order this resource.
  • Why are we offered a choice of medicine? Knowing why you may be offered a choice of medicines is an important part of being medicinewise. NPS has developed a brochure which aims to increase consumer confidence when making choices between brands of medicines and in identifying the active ingredient in their medicines. Order this resource or find out more about medicine brand choices.
  • Why does it matter which pain reliever I choose? There can be risks in taking over-the-counter pain relievers when they are not taken as directed, interact with another medicine or are used by people who have certain health conditions. NPS has developed a brochure with information about over-the-counter pain relievers. Order this resource or find out more about over-the-counter pain relievers.
  • Managing chronic pain: NPS and Arthritis NSW have developed a booklet to help you manage your arthritis pain, in consultation with your doctor and other health professionals. The booklet includes a pain diary to help you track your levels of pain. An information brochure about arthritis pain is also available in traditional Chinese script.

 * © 2010,1989, University of Pittsburgh. All rights reserved. Developed by Buysse,D.J., Reynolds,C.F., Monk,T.H., Berman,S.R., and Kupfer,D.J. of the University of Pittsburgh using National Institute of Mental Health Funding.

You can access all NPS resources on the website: www.nps.org.au/consumers

How do I organise a session booking?

Contact COTA Victoria
Telephone: 03 9655 2125
Fax: 03 9654 4456
Email: involved@cotavic.org.au

Why is learning about medicines important?

More than 70% of Australians use medicines at any one time and around 140,000 visits to hospitals each year are medicines related, many due to a lack of information about the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM).

QUM means selecting management options wisely, choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary, and using medicines safely and effectively. Medicines include those available on prescription, medicines available over the counter, many traditional medicines and herbal remedies.
Why do COTA organizations and NPS – Better choices, Better health work together?

NPS and COTA organisations work in partnership combining Quality Use of medicines expertise with an understanding of the needs and interests of seniors in Australia. NPS develops training materials and COTA organisations recruit and train Peer Educators to deliver sessions with the community.

What happens at the sessions?

A trained Peer Educator will lead participants through information about medicines, using interactive activities and encouraging feedback and questions.

Participants receive handouts to take home to assist them in managing their medicines and talking with their pharmacist and doctor.

How long are the sessions?

The sessions last for up to one hour.

Free information sessions from Council on the Ageing (COTA) organisations and NPS – Better choices, Better health.

About NPS – Better choices, Better health  and COTA organisations

NPS – Better choices, Better health is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicines. We provide accurate, balanced, evidence-based information and services to help people choose if, when and how to use medicines to improve their health and well-being. NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.To find out more go to Web: www.nps.org.au

The COTA organisations have a pre-eminent role in representing, advocating and responding to the needs and interests of seniors though out Australia.  COTA organisations are in each state and territory in Australia.

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