Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement provides details of the scope of the Elements and Performance Criteria to allow for differences within enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

State/Territory/Commonwealth:
legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice, standards and guidelines, pharmacy policies, procedures and protocols in regard to recommending and selling asthma treatments and providing information.

Relevant information sources of product knowledge/information may include but are not limited to:

health care information

pharmacy or supplier product leaflets/manuals

brochures eg. patient information leaflets

manufacturers' information

pharmacist

industry and professional publications

customer feedback

support organisations

training and education.

Signs and symptoms of asthma may include but are not limited to:

difficulty breathing - shortness of breath

chest tightness

wheezing, breathlessness

cough - especially at night

increased sputum production.

Contributing factors may include but are not limited to:

allergens - house-dust mite, pollens, grasses and moulds

contact with animals eg. cat/pet fur

viral chest infections eg. flu

exercise

cold air or sudden temperature change

irritants eg. dust, smoke, fumes, strong odours

certain medication

emotional stress, excitement

occupational factors eg. dusts, chemicals and gases

some foods and occasionally food additives.

Location may include but is not limited to:

dispensary

professional services area

front of shop.

Advice, which must be non-therapeutic and within the limitations of the pharmacy assistant role, may include:

referral to the pharmacist

provision of information about government and community support services

care and storage of asthma related equipment.

Regulatory requirements:
vary between States and Territories which may affect the extent to which pharmacy staff members are able to perform some of the functions.

Regulatory and legislative requirements as applicable for each State and Territory may include but are not limited to:

Consumer Law, Environmental Law, Occupational Safety, Health and Welfare Law specific to Local Government, State and Federal Legislation

The Pharmacy/Pharmacists Act and related regulations

Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances/Poisons Act and related regulations

Therapeutic Goods Act

Health Act and related regulations

Privacy legislation

Pharmacy Board Guidelines and/or directives

Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's Professional Practice Standards

Codes of conduct/ethics.

Lifestyle information and patient self care practices for asthma management may include but are not limited to:

developing an asthma action/management plan with your doctor and pharmacist and/or asthma educator

recognising and acting on signs or symptoms

avoid known triggers

keeping fit and maintaining a regular exercise program

not smoking

always carrying a reliever medication

checking with your doctor and pharmacist before stopping or starting any medicine

learning relaxed breathing techniques.

Asthma medicine/product range may include but is not limited to:

relievers - (bronchodilators) short acting B2-agonists, ipratropium bromide, theophyline

preventers - inhaled corticosteroids, cromoglycate, prednisone, predisalone

symptom controllers

spacer devices, nebulisers, pressurised aerosols (puffers), masks for adults and children

breath-activated metered dose inhalers or other delivery devices

peak flow meters.

Pharmacy asthma service range may include but is not limited to:

hire equipment such as nebulisers

peak expiratory flow measurement.

Product range may include but is not limited to:

non-scheduled products

pharmacy medication

pharmacist only medication

prescription only medication.

Effective communication techniques may include but are not limited to:

using open and/or closed questions

speaking clearly and concisely

using appropriate language i.e. avoiding highly technical terms

giving the patient your full attention and maintaining eye contact.

Patients may include but are not limited to:

customers, clients or their agents

customers with routine or special requests

customers with special needs eg. elderly, non-English speaking background, infants etc

regular and new customers

people from a range of social, cultural or ethnic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities and may be unwell, drug affected or upset.

Patient needs may include but are not limited to:
seeking products/information for him/herself or another person
specified brand/manufacturer
function/usage
cost or lifestyle
physical characteristics which may include allergic reactions, physical disability and/or a need or desire to use natural products
the need to drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery.

Situations requiring referral to the pharmacist may include but are not limited to contra-indications such as:-
NSAIDS and aspirin should not be given to people with asthma
antihistamines are contraindicated in children with asthma
children under 12 years
patients who are breast-feeding or pregnant
patients taking any other medication including over-the-counter and complementary medicines
patients with known heart, renal or liver problems
patients presenting with any sign or symptom that indicates serious disease eg. weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, vomiting, blood in stools and/or vomit, extreme pain
situations where the pharmacy staff member may require further advice or is uncertain.

Procedures for monitoring asthma may include but are not limited to:

using a peak flow meter

maintaining an asthma management plan and seeing a doctor regularly.

Referral and asthma services information may include but are not limited to:

doctors, pharmacist

support organisations

relevant websites.

Potential side effects may include but are not limited to:

asthma relievers possibly causing shakiness and palpitations

some preventers possibly causing headache and stomach upsets

inhaled steroids possibly causing thrush in the mouth, hoarse voice and sore throat

oral steroids possibly causing mood changes and increased appetite.

Infection control guidelines may include but are not limited to:

handwashing

wearing gloves and appropriate protective clothing

sterilising, disinfecting and/or cleaning equipment.

Companion products may include but are not limited to:

nebuliser masks and disinfectant

allergen proof encasings for pillows

anti allergy sprays

dust mite and odour masks.

The following components of the Evidence Guide relate directly to the Performance Criteria and the Range Statement for the Unit of Competency and will inform and provide guidance for assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program.
Critical Aspects of Evidence
Evidence of the following knowledge and skills is considered essential to demonstrate competency in this unit. This includes demonstration of the Key Competencies at the performance level identified at the end of this unit:
Consistently applying pharmacy policy, standards and guidelines, protocols and industry legislation and codes of practice in regard to customer service procedures and providing information, including the recommendation and sale of un-scheduled and scheduled asthma products and medication.
Consistently asking critical questions of the patient in regard to recommending asthma pharmacy products/medication. These questions should follow industry protocols, for example:
Evidence of the ability to describe asthma, its symptoms and triggers, at risk groups and recommended products as listed in the range statement.
Evidence of the ability to consistently use effective communication techniques to provide information to patients while maintaining an awareness of the need for discretion, tact and confidentiality.
Demonstrated knowledge of the patient's needs in regard to asthma management.
Demonstrated knowledge of the asthma services offered by the pharmacy and how these will benefit the patient.
Consistently applying product knowledge and appropriate terminology according to relevant information sources, pharmacy policy and procedures to provide accurate information on types of asthma products to assist patients in making a choice.
Consistently applying legislative requirements in line with pharmacy policies and procedures in referring to pharmacist all queries requiring therapeutic advice.
Recognition of the situations requiring referral to the pharmacist and/or an alternative product based on patient's condition and according to relevant information sources.
Demonstration of the ability to source, record and disseminate asthma information.

Underpinning Knowledge and Skills
The following knowledge, understanding and skills are essential to perform work to the required standard in this unit:

Knowledge and application of pharmacy policies, standards and guidelines, industry codes of practice, legislative and regulatory requirements in regard to:

sales/hire/customer service
methods of dealing with special needs/requests of patients
product returns
product storage
product display
product location
selling products and services
post sales support.

Knowledge and application of knowledge to advise patients related to:

pharmacy asthma product and service information.

Operational skills and techniques in:

communicating ideas and information
maintaining confidentiality and privacy
demonstrating empathy and tact
demonstrating/simulating (where applicable) the use of peak flow meters or other equipment
working with others and in teams
handling patients with special needs, including difficult patients
planning and organising activities
following set routines and procedures
solving problems
collecting, analysing and organising information from a variety of sources
preparing and organising information in regard to asthma product knowledge.

Operational knowledge and understanding of customers and their needs including:

buyer motivation
customer behaviour, buying signals and cues
customer types
cultural differences/demographics/lifestyle/income
types of customer needs, eg. functional, psychological, therapeutic, non-therapeutic
complaint resolution.

Operational skills and techniques in selling including:

meeting and greeting customers
promoting and building customer rapport
promoting product features/benefits
overcoming customer objections and barriers to buying
maximising sales opportunities
dealing with difficult customers
opening and closing techniques
sales presentations
add ons and complementary sales
negotiating sales, prices and payment options
sales performance, evaluation and appreciation
maintaining and utilising a customer data base.
Language, literacy and numeracy skills relevant to the role and workplace requirements.
Awareness of the circumstances/situations under which referral to the pharmacist and/or other pharmacy staff is indicated.
Operational skills to consistently use time effectively and provide quality customer service in the pharmacy environment.

Context of Assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include the pharmacist and/or an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment in a range of situations which may include customer interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the pharmacy.
Assessment should be undertaken in an environment that meets pharmacy industry codes of practice and relevant industry regulations and legislation.

Interdependent Assessment of Unit
All units which relate to a job function can be considered as co-requisites to assist with an integrated approach to assessment.
For advice on interdependent assessment of units within and across pharmacy qualifications, refer to the Assessment Guidelines.

Assessment Methods
The following assessment methods are suggested:
Observation of the pharmacy staff member performing a range of workplace tasks over sufficient time to demonstrate her/ his handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include:
asking critical pre-determined questions to identify patient needs
identifying types of asthma treatment products as requested by the customer
applying product knowledge to provide accurate information to assist customers in making a choice
demonstrating the use of asthma care equipment to patients
passing on relevant information to the pharmacist and/or other pharmacy staff
recognising and referring requests requiring additional assistance to other pharmacy staff or the pharmacist.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess the ability to recognise asthma, its symptoms and triggers, along with the range of asthma services available via the pharmacy. Questions will be asked in a manner appropriate to the language and literacy level of the pharmacy staff member.
Role play to demonstrate tactful appropriate questioning, and the identification of situations requiring referral to the pharmacist.
Completing relevant workplace documentation.

Assessment Resources
This refers to the resources that are necessary for undertaking the assessment.
All resources must be provided for the assessment. If workplace based, the resources should relate specifically to pharmacy policies, procedures and range of stock and equipment. If an off the job or simulated work environment is used then resources should be applicable to the work environment.
Resources may include:
A real or simulated pharmacy environment.

Relevant documentation such as:

pharmacy policies and procedures
asthma product and service information, eg. leaflets, brochures, relevant information sources
industry codes of practice and relevant legislation.
Access to a range of patients with different requirements (real or simulated).
Access to a range of asthma products.
A qualified workplace assessor and/or a technical expert working in partnership with the assessor.

There are a number of processes that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies. Key competencies are generic competencies that focus on the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in an integrated way in work situations, but are not specific to any particular industry. Key competencies foster the development of skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to perform work operations. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = competence needed to undertake tasks effectively, 2 = the ability to manage tasks, and 3 = the ability to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
By gathering information from patients on asthma related products and services needs, providing specialist health care information to patients or information to pharmacist. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By collecting information relative to asthma related products and services and patient self care, analysing requirements relative to provision of information and collating in a useable format.
Also collecting information on patient needs, assessing situations requiring a pharmacist referral and presenting information in a useable format. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By organising the work requirements and planning the required tasks associated with providing specialist health care information on asthma related products and services and patient self care practices, in conjunction with other assigned activities, such that the task is undertaken in a realistic time frame. (1)

Working with others and in teams
By interacting with pharmacy staff in general and the pharmacist in particular to support and enhance pharmacy services in providing specialist health care information on asthma related products and services. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical ideas and techniques are likely to be involved in gathering and providing specialist health care information on asthma related products and services. (1)

Solving problems
By identifying issues associated with patient needs for asthma related products and services, providing specialist health care information for situations that are routine and involving pharmacy staff in general and the pharmacist in particular, where they are not. (1)

Using technology
By utilising technology in developing knowledge of asthma related products and services and patient self care practices and the demonstration monitoring services. Data or information may be required to be accessed or recorded using technology in relation to the provision of information. (1)