Winners of Script Your Future challenge are announced

Several innovative student pharmacist medication adherence campaigns were recently named as winners of the first Script Your Future Medication Adherence Challenge.

The challenge is part of a public awareness campaign launched by the National Consumers League and more than 100 public and private organizations, including the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores Foundation.

This coordinated initiative engages student pharmacists in a public education effort on the importance of helping patients with chronic diseases take their medications as directed. More than 40,000 student pharmacists educated more than 250,000 individuals nationwide in October.

The winners of the challenge – selected from 81 participating colleges and schools of pharmacy – include: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Harding University College of Pharmacy, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy, and University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy.

“Student pharmacists work directly within communities to educate patients about medication adherence, that leads to people living healthier lives, as exemplified by the activities of the challenge awardees,” said Lucinda L. Maine, PhD, executive vice president and CEO of the AACP.

The Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Professions received a National Challenge Award after its student pharmacists, faculty, residents, and dean met with Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman to discuss the Script Your Future campaign. They also provided 50 wallet cards for the governor’s staff. In addition, student pharmacists provided medication counseling services at pharmacy and clinical sites across the state in October.

Another National Challenge Award winner, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Pharmacy, provided more than 2,000 in-person patient counseling sessions to those affected by HIV/AIDS. Student pharmacists at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Pharmacy conducted one-on-one counseling sessions with more than 3,000 patients to discuss medications and help them develop plans to better follow their prescriptions.

Student pharmacists at Harding University created a Facebook page for their Script Your Future campaign, and had each class focus on a particular chronic disease and produce medication adherence videos. In addition, 1 student posted a rap video on medication adherence to YouTube, discussing the possible side effects of a particular drug.