Page 33 - Community pharmcy practice E-book 2025
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31/10/2025, 23:40 Community Pharmacy Practice - Course Materials
Possible actions
1. Recommend selfcare with drug, nondrug, and/or alternative/complementary therapies;
2. Refer the patient to another health care provider for treatment;
3. Recommend selfcare until another health care provider can be consulted; or
4. Take no action.
The possible reasons for referral for further advice
include:
'danger' or 'red flag' signs or symptoms
incomplete information (e.g. a ear condition where the ear has not been examined)
duration or recurrence of symptoms
Failed medication (or ADR)
Patient-specific factors (age,..)
Exclusions for self treatment!
The symptoms require medical referral (e.g., eye pain).
The patient is not an appropriate candidate for selfcare (e.g., a woman with diabetes who
develops a vaginal candidal infection).
The symptoms are too severe or long lasting for self-treatment.
Effective nonprescription therapy is not available.
Nonprescription dosages or duration of treatment is inadequate to treat the condition.
Optimal therapeutic alternative
Patient specific variables include age, gender, medication history, medical conditions, allergies,
social habits (alcohol, tobacco use), patient preferences, family/home dynamics, and economic
status.
Therapy specific variables include dosage forms, ingredients, side effects, adverse effects,
potential interactions, relative effectiveness, flavor, and price.
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