|
More than 50 million Americans suffer the symptoms of heartburn more than twice a week. Approximately 10% of Americans suffer heartburn symptoms daily and more than a third of all Americans have heartburn on at least an occasional basis. These patients have problems sleeping, enjoying their favorite meals and activities, and heartburn can make asthma worse in asthmatics, leading to a decreased quality of life. Student pharmacists and pharmacists have the ability to help the nearly 46% of patients who have improvement in their heartburn related symptoms with over the counter medications. Student pharmacists across the country have the opportunity to help heartburn sufferers live healthier and more productive lives. APhA-ASP has partnered with Procter and Gamble and the National Heartburn Alliance to help Americans Get Heartburn Smart with the Heartburn Awareness Challenge. This new patient care project will allow student pharmacists to work on their presentation and clinical skills while educating the public on heartburn. Student pharmacists will be able to recommend lifestyle modifications to decrease the number of episodes and the severity of heartburn, recommend OTC medications sufferers can take and refer sufferers to their physician when medical attention is needed. The Get Heartburn Smart presentations can be given at a variety of settings, from a local pharmacy, a Lion’s Club, an assisted living facility, or a PTA meeting. Heartburn screenings can be held with the Get Heartburn Smart presentation or separately, at malls, local festivals or campus events. At each chapter, a committee chair should be chosen to head the chapter’s campaign. The committee chair is responsible for planning, implementing and carrying out each event. The chair is also responsible for writing the Heartburn Awareness Challenge report, which is due to APhA by January 5th each year. A Heartburn Awareness Challenge binder is sent to each chapter in August to help prepare presentations and screenings. The power point presentations are included on a CD, which students can download to their own computers and modify to fit their audience. Students will need a computer, projector and projector screen at each of the sites they choose to do presentations. Screening survey's are included in the kit to enable each of the students to help patients categorize their heartburn, and enable student pharmacists to recommend proper OTC medications or refer patients to their physician. All of these supplies can be reordered from the National Heartburn Alliance through the toll free number, but be sure to reorder supplies with enough time before the next event. For questions on the Heartburn Awareness Challenge, contact: |
