Course Overview

This Ausmed Course outlines key pharmacological considerations and provides a risk-versus-benefit approach when dispensing or medication counselling in pregnancy.

Topics

• Impact of drugs on maternal and fetal physiology related to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) pregnancy categories
• Key nutrient requirements pre-conception and antenatally
• Medication and common pregnancy-associated, pre-existing or episodic conditions
• Risk-versus-benefit assessments when medication counselling in pregnancy.

Need

For pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to assist in ensuring the safe use of medicines in pregnancy, a strong understanding of the risks-versus-benefits of medicines is required. Pharmacists and healthcare professionals are also required to have a strong foundational knowledge of maternal and fetal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. This knowledge can lead to reduced adverse patient outcomes as well as aid in beneficial outcomes for patients.

Purpose

The purpose of this Ausmed Course is to:

• Provide pharmacists and other healthcare professionals with up-to-date evidence-based knowledge on medicines used in pregnancy; and
• Develop the confidence and competency of pharmacists handling requests or prescriptions for medications in pregnancy.

Learning Outcomes

• Improved knowledge of maternal and fetal physiological changes and how drugs impact on fetal development.
• Ability to educate patients about key nutrient requirements pre-conception and antenatally.
• Describe an approach to managing medication in pregnancy for pregnancy-associated, pre-existing or episodic conditions.
• Able to perform a risk-versus-benefit assessment when medication counselling in pregnancy.

Target Audience

Pharmacists and other healthcare professionals who are involved in the prescribing, dispensing and administration of medication to people who are pregnant.

Disclosure

No conflict of interest exists for anyone in the position to control content for this activity. Wherever possible, generic or non-proprietary names of medications or products have been used.

Educator

Treasure McGuire View profile

Associate Professor Treasure McGuire is an experienced clinical pharmacist, educator, and researcher. She has worked in a wide range of pharmacy practice settings – women’s and newborn health, medicines information, medication safety and toxicology – in Australia, USA, and the Netherlands. Treasure received the Lilly International Fellowship in Hospital Pharmacy and, In 2015, she was the recipient of the Sr Eileen Pollard Medal (Mater Research-UQ) for excellence in incorporating research into clinical care provision.