Patient Counselling Points For Pharmacists

Patients pay a visit to the hospital to get solution to their health problems. Majority of them end up not satisfied with what they got. Their complain is that either the medical doctor did not listen enough to their complain, or did not give them more time. This we understand is caused by the many queue of patients waiting to be attended to. This can have a great effect on compliance and adherence. However, this can be limited if a patient get some of these information from the pharmacist. It will instill some level of trust in them which will eventually lead to adherence and compliance.
As patients get their drugs filled in the pharmacy either in the hospital or community pharmacy, there are many questions in their mind that probably were not attended to in the office of the medical doctor. These patients may not know the right questions to ask. They may also find it difficult to ask because they don't know it is their right. This is where the pharmacist can be of extreme help. Giving these informations at no cost will help the patient and the world bear witness the job and duty of the pharmacist is more than mere dispensing.
Read Also: The Job And Duty Of A pharmacist
The informations the patients really need or the questions they most likely want to ask and find answers to are not much. Before you begin, initial a conversation to assess the information the patient already know about the medication like, do you know what each medication is for? How do you intend to take the drugs? Or for how long? The knowledge of the patient will shape your next procedure and they fall into the following basic.

Pharmacist counseling

Counseling Points

Medication Indication

When patients make a singular complain, they most know the drug(s) is use to treat that condition. But in situations whereby the patient made several different complain and the drugs given are more than one, they may get confuse which is which and how each may impact on their lives daily. As they go home with these drugs, they will be observing for side effects. When they notice any changes in their body, they may not know which drug is responsible. They end up dropping all the drugs. This is bad.
For each complain, explain the function of each drug. Two or three drugs can be indicated for one of the conditions. With this knowledge, the patient can be encouraged to be part of their own health care which world health organization (W.H.O) is advocating for.

Dose Or Dosage

Majority of patients normally ask for the previous information and this one though. The doctor only wrote the medication strength, frequency and duration. On very few occasions, they include time. However, we all know that dose goes more than these information. Some drugs need to be taken with or without food, preferably in the morning, never to be crush drugs, take 2 hours before or after other drugs, not to be taken with alcohol, etc.
Some of these information are so vital that without them, the patient may not get the benefits of some drugs.

Side Or Adverse Effects

Some patients will keep taking their medications even if the problem persist or another problem arise. They may not even know the major side effect that must be look out for. The pharmacist can do well and provide this valuable information because it help build confidence in the medication and allow the patient decide for their health.
When a patient knows that a drug will make them feel dizzy during the day, they can then prepare themselves for the inevitable.

Expectation

I want my drug to take effect immediately it hit my system. That is the desire of every person. But unfortunately, not every drug gives thesame instantaneous positive effect. That is why some drugs are built with some new technology to achieve this like soft gel. Still some drugs takes weeks or even months to manifest. Most patients with little or no information on what and how the drug will work may end up dumping the drug after some few trials. The story will be 'drug this doctor or pharmacist gave me no dey work' and next thing will be to opt in for another alternative such as native. It is good they know when to call back when the drug took longer than expected to work. And when the patient knows when the effect will manifest, they will adhere to their drugs.

Advice

There are several advice for different kind of drugs that is why this subtopic is complex somehow. Patients wants to know how to store their drugs, effects of over the counter drugs on the prescribe medications, effects of food or alcohol on the drugs.
Read Also: The Role Pharmacist Play In different Sectors
Some other questions that should be provided include what happens when a dose is miss and what should be done, should the drug go with only water or juice, which juice is not suitable, etc.
Infact, there is no limit to the kind of advice that can be given. And it is almost impossible to tell the patient all the advice needed especially during rush hour. That is where it is proper to setup simple ways of getting patients contacts. This will make follow up easy.
Share On Social Media With Family And Friends To Show You Care!