PATIENT MEDICATION COUNSELING

Presented By UPASHANA BANERJEE

1 2ND YR(4TH SEMESTER)

WHAT IS PATIENT MEDICATION COUNSELING?

Process of providing information , assistance and advice to help patients use their medications appropriately.
Can be given directly to the patient or patients representative.

AIM OF EFFECTIVE PATIENT MEDICATION COUNSELING

Better patient understanding of their illness and role of medication in its treatment. Improved medication adherence. More effective drug treatment. Reduced incidence of adverse effects Unnecessary healthcare costs. Improved quality of life of patient. Better coping strategies Improved professional rapport
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PATIENT COUNSELING AND MEDICAL ADHERENCE

Medical adherence refers to the extent to which an individuals medication taking behaviour coincides with medical advice.
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QUALITIES REQUIRED FOR A PHARMACIST

Understanding patients illness and treatment.

Familiar with pathophysiology and therapeutics of the patients disease.

Good communication skills.

QUALITIES OF A GOOD COUNSELLOR

Good listener. Flexibility. Empathic. Non-judgemental. Tolerant. Communicate (Verbal and non-verbal) confidently.

MODES OF COMMUNICATION

Medication history interviews

Patient information leaflets (PILS) Patient medication sheets

BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION

Physical barriers
Communication barriers Cultural barriers Functional barriers

STEPS IN A PATIENT MEDICATION COUNSELING

Introduce yourself and identify the patient

Ask patient to talk to you about the medication and explain the purpose of the session.

Update the patient medication profile

Assess what the patient already knows about the newly prescribed drug and the reason it was prescribed
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ASSESS PATIENT KNOWLEDGE OF HOW TO TAKE THE MEDICATION

Assess patients understanding of what to expect from the medication

Discuss additional information that the patient requires for the particular medication

Ask the patient to share any concerns or questions that have not been addressed.

Check patients understanding of the information discussed in counseling session

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COUNSELING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Talk to parents and children.

When children are old enough to understand, speak directly to them about their medicines.
Encourage children to ask questions about their illness and treatment.

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COUNSELING ELDERLY PATIENT

Problems Impaired vision and hearing. Low literacy skills. Increased chronic conditions and number of medications prescribed.

Techniques Provide additional time. Provide written information and compliance reminder.

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HOW TO DEAL WITH AN ANGRY PATIENT?

Reasons for annoyance Time spent at the doctors clinic. Concerns over health and healthcare costs. Frustrations over dealing with complexities of health care system.

Techniques Assertiveness. Language Ownership. Specificity

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WHAT TO DO IF PATIENT REFUSES COUNSELING?

Provide patient with written counseling materials along with the phone number of the pharmacy. Provide encouragement to call pharmacy. Offer to make an appointment with patient for counseling over telephone on a later date.

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ETHICAL ISSUES IN PATIENT COUNSELING

Beneficence- Acting in the patients best interest Autonomy Honesty- A pharmacist: has the duty to tell the truth and to act with conviction of conscience Informed consent Confidentiality Fidelity

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CONCLUSION

Patient medication counseling is an important part of a pharmacists profession. It has received a huge response in the western countries, particularly in America and Europe ,where excellent heath-care facilities are provided. Although, in India, patients are not used to this term. This is due to ignorance in healthcare sectors.

Patient Medication counseling can assist patients in using their medicines safely, reliably and above all costeffectively.

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THANK YOU
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