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3.3 Patient Councelling

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23 views4 pages

3.3 Patient Councelling

Uploaded by

ajitkumarchandrawansi3
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Patient counseling

Definition

• Patient counseling is defined as providing medication information orally or in written


form to the patients or their representatives on directions of use, advice on side effects,
precautions, storage, diet and life style modifications

Objectives of patient counseling

1. Patient should recognize the importance of medication for his well being

2. A working relationship and a foundation for continuous interaction and consultation should be
established

3. Patient's understanding of strategies to deal with medication side effects and drug interactions
should be improved

4. Should ensure better patient compliance

5. Patient becomes an informed, efficient and active participant in disease treatment and self-care
management

6. The pharmacist should be perceived as a professional who offers pharmaceutical care

7. Drug interactions and adverse drug reactions should be prevented

Functions of patient counseling

Effective patients counseling aims to produce the following results:

• Better patients understanding of their illness and the role of medication in its treatment

• Improved medication adherence

• More effective drug treatment

• Reduced incidence of adverse effects and unnecessary healthcare costs

Counseling Area

• The patient should be counseled in : -semi-private or Private area


• Away from other people and distractions, depending on the medication(s)

• The patient should perceive the counseling area as

-confidential

-secure

-conducive to learning

• This helps ensure both parties are focused on the discussion, and minimizes interruptions and
distractions

By: Umesh Naktode


Communication skills for effective counseling:

The counseling process uses verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Verbal communication skills are:-

-Language

-Tone

-Volume

Speed

Non-verbal communication skills are:-

-Proximity

-Facial Expression

-Eye Contact

-Body Language

Steps during Patient Counseling

• Counseling is a two-way communication process

• Interaction between the patient and the pharmacist is essential for counseling to be effective

• The following are the steps to be followed during patient counseling

1) Preparing for the session

2) Opening of the session

3) Counseling content

4) Closing the session

Process Steps

1) Establish caring relationships with patients as appropriate to the practice setting and stage in the
patient’s health care management

• Introduce yourself as a pharmacist, explain the purpose and expected length of the
sessions, and obtain the patient’s agreement to participate

• Determine the patient’s primary spoken language

2) Assess the patient’s knowledge about:


• His or her health problems and medications

• Physical and mental capability to use the medications appropriately

By: Umesh Naktode


• Attitude toward the health problems and medications

• Ask open ended questions about each medication’s purpose and what the patient expects,

• Ask the patient to describe or show how he or she will use the medication

• They should also be asked to describe any problems, concerns, or uncertainties they are
experiencing with their medications

3) Provide information orally and use visual aids or demonstrations to fill patients’ gaps in knowledge
and understanding

• Open the medication containers to show patients the colors, sizes, shapes, and markings on
oral solids

• For oral liquids and injectable, show patients the dosage marks on measuring devices

• Demonstrate the assembly and use of administration devices such as nasal and oral inhalers

• As a supplement to face-to-face oral communication, provide written handouts to help


the patient recall the information

4) If a patient is experiencing problems with his or her medications, gather appropriate data and assess
the problems

• Then adjust the pharmacotherapeutic regimens according to protocols or notify the


prescribers

5) Verify patients’ knowledge and understanding of medication use

• Ask patients to describe or show how they will use their medications and identify their effects

• Observe patients’ medication-use capability and accuracy and attitudes


toward following their pharmacotherapeutic regimens and monitoring
plans

Counseling content

The counseling content is considered to be the heart of the counseling session. During this step the
pharmacist explains to the patient:

• About his or her medications

• Treatment regimen

• Lifestyle changes such as diet or exercise

may also be discussed Topics commonly covered

include:

• Name and strength of the medication

• Reason why it has been prescribed or how it works

By: Umesh Naktode


• How to take the medication

• Expected duration of treatment

• Expected benefits of treatment

• Possible adverse effects

• Possible medication or dietary interaction

By: Umesh Naktode

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