Nonprescription Management of Acute Viral Respiratory Illnesses in the Wake of COVID-19: Clinical Updates and Tools for Pharmacists

Nonprescription Management of Acute Viral Respiratory Illnesses in the Wake of COVID-19: Clinical Updates and Tools for Pharmacists

Faculty

Sneha Baxi Srivastava, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, DipACLM
Associate Professor/Associate Director of Skills Education, Clinical Pharmacist
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
North Chicago, Illinois

Lake County Health Department
Waukegan, Illinois

Click here to view/download infographic poster.
 
Program Description
Individuals with COVID-19 may present with a plethora of symptoms including nonspecific fever, chills, fatigue, and shortness of breath that can range from mild to severe and appear from 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. The guidance surrounding prevention and treatment of COVID-19 has been constantly evolving. Various leading health organizations, such as the CDC, NIH, and WHO, have issued recommendations for supportive therapy for symptoms of COVID-19 that may include the use of acetaminophen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). As telehealth substitutes for in-person visits with clinicians, pharmacists may find themselves taking on a more expanded role in counseling patients face-to-face in the pharmacy about potential treatments for COVID-19. There is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding COVID-19, so stopping the spread of misinformation, educating about symptoms, and easing concerns patients might have regarding the use of over-the-counter treatments should be a priority for pharmacists engaging with patients. This activity includes the latest clinical and safety data regarding the use of acetaminophen and NSAIDs in patients with COVID-19 in combination with counseling instructions regarding dosing and duration of use of nonprescription drugs in the setting of other pharmacologic agents and medical conditions.

Target audience: Retail pharmacists
Type of activity: Knowledge
Release date: January 29, 2021
Expiration date: February 15, 2022
Time to complete activity: 2.0 hours
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Review the pathophysiology and clinical presentation commonly associated with COVID-19
• Discuss current efficacy and safety data and the associated treatment recommendations regarding the use of ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Identify the roles of pharmacists in educating patients about preventing and reducing the transmission of COVID-19 and the safe use of over-the-counter products to manage symptoms associated with acute respiratory illnesses

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-21-024-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through February 15, 2022.


Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, read the article in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
 

---

Disclosures

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Faculty
Sneha Baxi Srivastava, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, DipACLM

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff— Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Kelly McCormick; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters

Pharmacy Times^® Editorial Staff—Davy James

An anonymous peer reviewer was part of the content validation and conflict resolution and has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

For questions about this internet CPE activity, please contact:
[email protected]
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Information:
www.pharmacytimes.org/terms