LEADER IN PATIENT
EDUCATION WRITES SECOND EDITION OF UNDERSTANDING CANADIAN
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
Dr. Dorothy
L. Smith, an internationally recognized expert in patient
education, has written the second edition of Understanding
Canadian Prescription Drugs (Key Porter Books). The
first edition, published in 1989, received wide acclaim
as the premiere home reference book for consumers on prescription
medications in Canada.
Dorothy Grant
of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald described the book as being
"literally packed full of the kind of helpful information
all consumers need to know about prescription drugs." The
book also received praise from Dr. Peter J. McLeod of the
Canadian Medical Association Journal, who said "I think
[this book] is excellent and will recommend it to patients
who request information on prescription drugs."
The Canadian
Pharmaceutical Association has endorsed the second edition.
Executive Director, Leroy Fevang, writes in the Foreword
that Dr. Smith's book "will be an aid in answering many
of your questions". The book has been reviewed by a Professional
Advisory Board of 114 distinguished Canadian physicians
and pharmacists.
Understanding
Canadian Prescription Drugs is a unique reference manual
because it contains information on Canadian prescription
drugs written in language that the average consumer can
understand. Dr. Dorothy L. Smith writes that "many people
in Canada are still using instructions from books that have
been published in the United States and only apply to American
medications. This is a dangerous practice... because medications
in both countries often have the same name but contain different
ingredients, have different uses, different storage requirements
and different times and methods of administration."
The second
edition features updated information on Canadian prescription
drugs, the emergency phone numbers of the Poison Control
Centres in Canada, administration instructions for various
types of medications, descriptions of possible side effects
and drug interactions, hundreds of practical tips, and four
Medicine Cards for the consumer's wallet or purse.
The book is
available in bookstores and pharmacies.