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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:
American Pharmacists Association
Attn: Student Development
2215 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20037-2985
apha-asp@aphanet.org
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