Module 7BBPP003: Optimising medicines use in long term conditions

Module 7BBPP003: Optimising medicines use in long term conditions

Guidance: Review of the Medicines-Related Consultation Framework and the principles of Medicines Optimisation

Course participants are required to review a consultation they have undertaken with a patient taking medicines for a long term condition in order to critically appraise their consultation skills and their application of the principles of Medicines Optimisation. The following stages should be worked through:

1. Identify a patient with a long term condition, who is taking at least two regular medicines for the condition, who would benefit from a medication review consultation to address poor adherence and/or to discuss health beliefs that are impacting on their medicine-taking behaviour.
2. Undertake the consultation using the Medicines-Related Consultation Framework (MRCF) as a guide – remember to investigate the patient’s adherence (intentional or non-intentional) and any issues which relate to their beliefs about their illness and/or necessity/concerns about their prescribed treatment. This relates to principle 1 of Medicines Optimisation.
3. During the consultation (or at a follow-up consultation, if you prefer) address the concerns and/or issues that you identified. Remember that the aim here is to help the patient get the most benefit from their medicines.
4. Describe the evidence that guides the management of the patient’s long term condition (if the patient has more than one long term condition, choose only one). Critically review the medication that the patient is prescribed for this condition: does the evidence support the use of these medicines (consider drug type, dosage, route, frequency etc)? Would you recommend any changes to the patient’s medication, either to optimise efficacy or to improve safety? If you feel no changes are necessary, describe how the patient should be monitored to ensure efficacy is optimised and risk of adverse effects is minimised. You should cite evidence, where appropriate, to justify your recommendations. This relates to principles 2 and 3 of Medicines Optimisation.
5. Work through the MRCF checklist to undertake a self-assessment, or, if the consultation was observed by a colleague, ask them to complete the assessment. Critically appraise your consultation skills. Consider:
   1. Did the MRCF help you identify and/or address adherence, efficacy and/or toxicity issues?
   2. How did this consultation differ from previous consultations for which the MRCF was not used?
   3. How might you use the MRCF in future consultations?
   4. How can the MRCF help you ensure that you make medicines optimisation part of your routine practice? This relates to principle 4 of Medicines Optimisation.

Assessment criteria

Use the template provided (boxes can be enlarged as required). The total word count should not exceed 2500 words. This does not include references or the section headings or other pre-printed text. Work that exceeds the word limit will not be marked beyond the first 2500 words. Consult markscheme for weighting of each section (i.e. how marks are allocated). Ensure that references are reputable and are cited appropriately.

Module 7BBPP003: Optimising medicines use in long term conditions

Markscheme: Review of the Medicines-Related Consultation Framework and the principles of Medicines Optimisation

Student name:

Mark awarded

Patient case details (patient history, social history, medication history) /20

Understanding the patient’s experience 25
Ensuring medicines use is evidence based and as safe as possible 25

Critical review of consultation skills 25
Referencing / English 5

Total 100