Training your team and ensuring everyone's knowledge is up-to-date are important CPD triggers. We suggest that you get the team together for a training session based on the activities below and discuss the various ways in which you can offer customers and patients added care in this category.

 

Subject: Indigestion and heartburn

This Train Your Team checklist provides support and information to run a team training session on indigestion and heartburn. The content can also be used for your own CPD.

Reflection

• Which customers presenting with symptoms of heartburn or indigestion can we manage in the pharmacy?
• Do we talk to customers with heartburn about lifestyle changes they might make?
• Do I know the licensed OTC indications for and potential differences in efficacy between antacids, alginates, H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors?
• Do I know the drug interactions for OTC heartburn medicines?
• Am I aware of the types of medication that can cause heartburn?

Training checklist

Ensure support staff understand the following key points:

• Terms such as heartburn, indigestion, reflux and acid stomach mean different things to different people, so it is important to be clear about an individual’s symptoms
• Symptoms described as heartburn can indicate more serious disease (e.g. heart disease, gallstones, peptic ulcer)
• Lifestyle factors associated with heartburn or indigestion
• Antacid liquids are more effective than antacid tablets, but tablets are more convenient
• Several antacids contain sodium, which should be avoided by people on salt-restricted diets
• Two to three days’ treatment may be needed before the full benefit of proton pump inhibitors is felt
• H2 antagonists can be used as soon as symptoms start and as a preventive measure
• Sufferers should see their doctor if no relief is obtained within two weeks of continuous treatment.

I will:

• Update my knowledge of heartburn and indigestion and their management
• Ensure that my staff know when to refer customers with symptoms of heartburn or indigestion
• Train my pharmacy assistants to ensure that they can meet the points in this training checklist and consider this training exercise for inclusion in my own CPD record.