Patient Interview Techniques for Pharmacists

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of the patient interview in pharmaceutical care?

To provide effective patient-centered care (correct)

To optimize pharmacy operations

To collect medication history only

To evaluate clinical research findings

Which of the following elements is NOT typically included in a comprehensive patient interview?

Medication history

Personal history

Research experience (correct)

Physical examination

Which of the following is NOT a basic function of a clinical pharmacist?

Monitor prescriptions

Conduct surgical procedures (correct)

Implement policies

Educate and counsel patients

In the patient-centered pharmaceutical care process, which part follows the assessment phase?

Care Plan Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following workshops is included in the listed topics for medication counseling?

Medication counseling workshop 1 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true about the role of a clinical pharmacist in relation to medication history?

Pharmacists are experts in medication history and reconciliation. Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if a patient displays inappropriate or hostile feelings during an interview?

Verbally acknowledge the feelings and address them appropriately. Signup and view all the answers

Which approach should be avoided when interviewing a patient?

Using technical language and medical jargon. Signup and view all the answers

What is an important step to take when a patient's answers are unclear?

Pursue unclear answers until they are clarified. Signup and view all the answers

How should the interviewer handle interruptions during a patient interview?

Redirect the conversation as needed but refrain from interrupting the patient. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to use vocabulary geared to the patient during an interview?

It ensures that the patient fully understands the questions being asked. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for closing the interview properly?

To ensure the patient feels heard and understood. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes how to approach a patient about their medication history?

Discuss one medication at a time to avoid overwhelming the patient. Signup and view all the answers

What is a recommended practice during a patient interview?

Use transitional statements and summarization to guide the conversation. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary disadvantage of the first approach to interviewing patients?

Pharmacists may overlook important information. Signup and view all the answers

Which advantage is associated with interviewing patients before reviewing documented information?

Pharmacist is unbiased and explores all aspects. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a recommended step in the patient-oriented process skills?

Review all known patient medications first. Signup and view all the answers

What can be a potential issue for inexperienced interviewers using the second approach?

They may find the process intimidating and time-consuming. Signup and view all the answers

Which skill is essential for effective communication during patient interviews?

Maintaining eye contact with the patient. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to clarify the purpose of the interview with the patient?

To alleviate any possible confusion. Signup and view all the answers

What balance of question types should pharmacists use during interviews?

A mix of open-ended and closed-ended questions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of removing distractions during a patient interview?

To maintain the patient's focus on the interview. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction

Pharmacists play a crucial role in patient care, contributing to optimized therapy through medication monitoring, influencing drug selection, implementing policies, medication history reconciliation, patient education, and clinical research.

Interviewing the patient and taking history

The patient interview is essential for gathering comprehensive information to deliver effective patient-centered care.
This includes medical, medication, social, personal, and family history, as well as a thorough review of systems and potentially a physical examination.

Approaches to Patient Interview

There are two approaches.
- Reviewing known information about the patient's condition and focusing the interview on specific identified issues (common in acute care settings).
- Interviewing the patient without prior knowledge of their history (common in community-based pharmacy where access to patient records is limited).

Interviewing the Patient: Patient-Oriented Process Skills

Ensure privacy and comfort for the patient.
Communicate at eye level or lower.
Remove distractions.
Clarify the purpose of the interview.
Obtain the patient's consent for the interview.
Verify patient information and use proper titles.
Maintain eye contact throughout the interview.

Communication Skills

Provide clear instructions about the structure of the interview.
Balance open-ended and closed-ended questions.
Use vocabulary appropriate for the patient's understanding.
Employ non-biased questioning.
Allow sufficient time for the patient to respond.
Interrupt or redirect as necessary but avoid interrupting during patient responses.
Actively listen to the patient.
Address one topic at a time, starting with general then specific information.
Clarify unclear answers.
Ask simple and clear questions.
Acknowledge and address patient feelings.
Provide feedback to the patient and seek their feedback.

Avoiding Interview Mistakes

Avoid:
- Using technical language and jargon.
- Interruptions.
- Leading questions.
- Outside interruptions.
- Expressing bias or prejudices.
- Closed posture.
- Reading notes during the interview.
- Superior or threatening posture.
- Avoiding eye contact.
- Sarcasm.
- Derogatory comments about other healthcare professionals.
- Ignoring patient emotions.
- Speaking too fast, too slow, or mumbling.
- Asking multiple questions at a time.
- Asking rapid-fire questions.

Sample Interview Questions:

General Questions:
- Do you take any prescription medications?
- What prescription medications are you taking?
- Have you ever had any bad reactions to medication?
- Do you take any nonprescription medications?
- Do you take any complementary and alternative medicines?
- Are you allergic to any medication?
Targeted Questions (follow up):
- Have you ever taken any other prescription/nonprescription medications?
- Have you ever taken any other complementary and alternative medicines?
- When did you start/stop taking the medication?
- When did you find out you were allergic to the medication?
- What did you do when you had the allergic reaction to the medication?

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Description

This quiz explores essential techniques used by pharmacists to conduct effective patient interviews. It covers the importance of comprehensive patient history and the different approaches to interviewing. Understanding these techniques helps enhance patient care and medication management.