In Team Training

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Record learning outcomes

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: pain

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

Reflection

• Can the pharmacy team ensure that customers get the best painkilling treatments for their needs?
• Are we giving effective advice on the use of painkillers?
• Do we seek to understand why customers may become dissatisfied with painkilling medication?
• Do we attempt to recognise excessive use of painkillers?
• How do we manage migraine in the pharmacy?
• Can the pharmacy team explain the advantages and disadvantage of the different types of painkilling medication for a customer’s specific pain symptoms?
• Am I familiar with the NICE guidance on headaches in young people and adults?

Training checklist

Ensure your support staff understand the following key points:

• The incidence of pain and its impact on quality of life
• The commonest types of pain and their causes
• The difference between acute and chronic pain
• Indications and contraindications for different painkilling preparations
• The need to look out for excessive use of painkillers
• The appropriate use of cold and hot therapy for injuries and pain
• Specific lifestyle tips for customers with pain
• When to refer customers with pain to the pharmacist.

Action

• We will revise our knowledge of painkilling medication – e.g. ingredients, indications, contraindications
• We will consider over-use of painkillers in our customers
• I will train my pharmacy assistants to ensure that they can meet the points in this training checklist.

Practice points

• Identify two to three questions you have been asked about pain in the pharmacy not covered in this article. How did you respond? Could your response be improved in any way?
• How can customers whose jobs are desk bound prevent back pain? See: NHS Choices 
• What self-help measures can you recommend to treat period pain? See: NHS Choices