Heartburn Awareness

Our objectives for the awareness campaign are to increase public awareness on heartburn management and causes. Help the public identify what triggers their heartburn and how they can avoid these triggers Encourage patients to take control of managing their heartburn by providing supplemental information for patients to take with them.

Chairperson

Chairperson: Jennifer Thompson
Email: @uic.edu

Training Sessions

See Calendar for dates/times.

Photos

Websites

Quick Reference Guide

Download the APhA Heartburn Awareness Challenge Quick-Reference Guide from the link above, or see below for the html formatted table.

Past Projects

  • In the fall of 2007, we held an informational booth at Jewel-Osco. The smoking cessation committee was also there. Since it was close to the holidays, we provided heartburn-friendly recipes for people.
  • Photos Held a booth at the UIC Outpatient Care Center in conjunction with a Halloween Health Fair. At right: P2 Tatyana Lawrecki, P2 Jessica Jacobson, and P2 Lara Ellinger help out at the Heartburn event held in conjunction with the UIC OCC Health Fair on October 31st, 2007
  • In the spring of 2008 we set up a booth at Legislative Day in Springfield. Here we caught the attention of legislators passing by, showing them that pharmacists have a wide range of clinical skills.
  • Two events were held in April, with one at the UIC Family Medicine Pharmacy and another at a local Dominick's.
  • Dominick's - community pharmacy event
  • Heartburn Screening - Illinois Capitol Building during Legislative Day
  • UIC pharmacy (University Village Pharmacy) Heartburn Event
  • UIC Outpatient Clinic Center (OCC) event
  • Free health clinic (CommunityHealth) monthly events in Spanish and Polish
  • Heartburn Training during 1/27 APhA Meeting

Present Projects

  • Free health clinic (CommunityHealth) monthly events in Spanish and Polish

Future Projects

  • In the fall we are hoping to do an educational presentation to employees of Dominick's. This might be held in a break room or public dining area within the store.
  • We would also like to have booths at health fairs and community events. We will continue using local pharmacies as well as UIC pharmacies to have informational sessions.

APhA Heartburn Awareness Challenge
Quick Reference Guide

Class Name Treatment/ Prevention? Onset/ Duration Dose Notes
Antacids Tums (CaCO3) Treatment Short onset/Short duration 1-2 tabs po (chewed) Q2 hrs PRN
  • -chewable tabs should be followed with water
  • -pts may need gas relief as well
Mylanta (AlOH, MgOH, simethicone) 2 to 4 tsp po Q4-6 hrs PRN
H2RAs Pepcid Treatment and Prevention Medium onset/Medium duration 10mg-20mg po BID PRN
  • -take 15 to 60 min before offending foods for prevention
  • -use only PRN
  • -look for combo products
Zantac 75mg-150mg po BID PRN
Axid 75mg-150mg po BID PRN
PPI Prilosec OTC Prevention Long onset/Long duration 20mg po QAM
  • -should only be taken in AM
  • -can be taken w/antacids and H2RAs
  • -takes a few days to start working initially

Goals for the upcoming year

  1. Have more of the trained students get excited about heartburn events and participate more.
  2. Get foamboard sign made (printed at Kinkos or Staples) and tripod purchased so that we have a professional sign at each heartburn event.
  3. Replace brochure samples and medicine samples that were destroyed during COP fire
  4. Work with Dr. Klodiana Myftari to hold at least 1 heartburn event at a lifestyles Dominick's (the dates she has given us are in February and March)
  5. If funds, time, and participation by committee members are sufficient, design another professional-looking posterboard that contains facts and drug info related to heartburn.
  6. Hold training sessions during APhA meetings so it is easier for students to attend
  7. Find community events where we can hold informational booths
  8. Hold an event at the free Community Health clinic
  9. Work with other APhA clinical committees to set up events in conjunction with each other
  10. Have better promotional material/better way of drawing passersby to the booth/table
  11. Have the committee be more involved in planning