In the midst of curricular revision, remember the importance of over-the-counter and self-care education

Over-the-counter (OTC) and self-care products are frequently utilized by adult patients as initial treatment for common health issues. This availability of OTC/self-care products, coupled with the accessibility of community-based pharmacists, uniquely positions pharmacists to serve as stewards of appropriate OTC/self-care treatment. As a result, community-based pharmacists must be competent in the practice of providing individualized, patient-specific, OTC recommendations and self-care education to assist patients in achieving optimal self-managed health outcomes.

Schools and colleges of pharmacy often undergo curricular revision/integration. As a result, it is often necessary to reallocate credit hours dedicated to OTC/self-care content. Curriculum committees should therefore be aware of several best-practice resources that may assist them with this task.

The impact on OTC/self-care content during curricular revision/integration directly effects the preparation of graduate ready student pharmacists and ultimately patient's self-managed health outcomes. Considerations include appointing an OTC/self-care champion to oversee the integration of OTC/self-care content as well as post-revision monitoring to ensure core topic areas are being adequately covered in the didactic curriculum and in accordance with best practices.