Page 45 - rp-may-2020

This activity has been accredited for 0.5 hours
of Group One CPD (or 0.5 CPD credit) suitable
for inclusion in an individual pharmacist’s CPD plan, which can be
converted to 0.5 hours of Group Two CPD (or 1 CPD credit) upon
successful completion of relevant assessment activities.
1. Symptoms of stress experienced in the body include:
A) Headaches, other aches and pains, sleep disturbance.
B) Fatigue, upset stomach, diarrhoea, high blood pressure.
C) Weakened immune system, muscle tension, change in
sex drive (male or female).
D) All the above.
2. Which of the following statements is the MOST correct?
Workplace stress can cause:
A) Reduced productivity, a decline in job satisfaction, increased
absences, decreased turnover, increased accidents and injuries.
B) Reduced productivity and a decline in job satisfaction.
C) Increased absences and decreased turnover.
D) Increased accidents and injuries.
3. Burnout, while not classified as a medical condition, is
recognised by the International Classification of Disease as:
A) A syndrome that is seen to be inevitably on the increase in today’s
busy world and particularly prevalent in modern workplaces.
B) A syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace
stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised
by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion,
increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism
or cynicism related to one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy.
C) A condition that cannot be treated or ameliorated and for which
better coping mechanisms need to be developed.
D) A syndrome that has no correlation with working conditions
or environment.
4. Some tips on addressing pharmacy staffing levels include:
A) Redeploy staff. Have dispensary technicians or dispensary
assistants complete technical aspects of dispensing while
pharmacists attend to professional aspects. Have a flexible staff
roster to ensure staff mix is correct. Develop a crisis plan to cover
unplanned staff absenteeism.
B) Temporarily withdraw non-essential professional services
if necessary. Arrange appointments for essential services.
Communicate to customers when you’re short-staffed that services
may be unavailable during this time or wait times may be longer.
C) Encourage staff to push through the workload and close the
pharmacy when it all gets too much.
D) A and B above.
5. The term self-care is used to describe the act of caring for
oneself. This may look different for everyone, but can include a
variety of coping mechanisms, including:
A) Physical activity.
B) Sleep improvement.
C) Relaxation.
D) Mindfulness.
E) All the above.
1
CPD CREDITS
Mental health support for pharmacy
during the COVID-19 pandemic
Demanding patients
Patients can also be a source of stress for pharmacists.
Dealing with angry or rude patients can be difficult to manage,
especially for people who prefer to avoid conflict. The simplest
way to decrease stress when dealing with difficult customers is
to not let it get to you and avoid responding defensively. This
can be easier said than done. Support from other members of
the pharmacy staff can assist with dealing with these customers,
as well as building your own capacity.
The GuildEd module ‘Dealing with difficult and challenging
behaviours’ may be useful to build your skills in this area
(Pharmacy Guild of Australia, 2020).
Conclusion
It’s important to find an approach that SETTLES the mind.
5
• S
tay focused on the here and now. Avoid thinking too far into
the future. Take each day one step at a time.
• E
ngage and stay connected to friends, family and support
networks. Working together with communities, united as a
country, we can move through this.
• T
houghts are thoughts, not necessarily facts. Be alert to
negative thoughts. Don’t give them power.
• T
reat people with kindness. Support others through this time
of uncertainty.
• L
imit information from, and time spent on, unhelpful media.
Constant exposure to anxiety-fuelling stories drives panic
and uncertainty.
• E
xercise is key. Research shows that good physical health is
critical for a healthy mind. Focus on good sleep, eating well and
working out.
• S
eek help.
Resources
Reliable sources of information:
National
• Pharmaceutical Society of Australia:
psa.org.au/coronavirus
• Pharmacy Guild of Australia:
guild.org.au/resources/business-operations/
covid-19
• Prime Minister Scott Morrison:
australia.gov.au
NSW
• Premier’s office:
preview.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
• NSW Health:
health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/covid-19-
pharmacy.aspx
Queensland
• Queensland Health:
health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-
procedures/novel-coronavirus-qld-clinicians
• Government:
qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-
covid-19
WA
• Government:
wa.gov.au/government/covid-19-coronavirus
NT
• Government:
coronavirus.nt.gov.au
SA
• Government:
covid-19.sa.gov.au
Victoria
• Department of Health and Human Services Victoria
dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Tasmania
• Government:
coronavirus.tas.gov.au
ACT
• Department of Health:
covid19.act.gov.au
Websites and documents
• Black Dog Institute COVID-19 resources page
• Managing Stress in Pharmacy 2018 document
Emergency support
• Lifeline: 13 11 14.
• Pharmacists’ Support Service: 1300 244 910.
• MensLine: 1300 78 99 78.
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636.
References
1. healthdirect.gov.au/stress-symptoms
2. betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/work-related-stress
3. who.int/mental_health/evidence/burn-out/en/
4. icd.who.int/en
5. blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/
covid-19_self-care-planning_black-dog-institute.pdf?sfvrsn=4
CPD ACTIVITY
43
RET AIL PHARMA C Y • MA Y 2020