This document discusses the importance of patient counseling by pharmacists. It notes that patient counseling is an interaction where the pharmacist provides the patient with information about their health condition and medications. The main goals of counseling are to ensure the patient understands how to take their medications safely and knows the purpose and expected outcomes of treatment. Counseling benefits patients through improved compliance and satisfaction, as well as benefiting pharmacists by strengthening their professional roles and relationships with patients.

1. “PHARMACIST IN PATIENT COUNSELLING”
Avinash Sankpal, Namdeo Shinde
GES’s College of Pharmacy (D. Pharm) Degaon. Satara-415004.
Abstract:
Patient counseling is their fore an interaction between care provider and patient during which the
patient is provided with information about the health condition, medications etc. Patient
counseling as a component of pharmaceutical care delivery can provide the launching pad for
increased recognition of the role of pharmacist as care giver.
Key points in counseling:
PHARMACY CARE
SYSTEM
Follow up to
access patients
outcome
Name of the medication
Collect and use
patient
information
How to take the medication
Warning about medication
Select and
recommend
therapies
Identify patients
drug related
problems
Develop solutions to the
problem
Storage of medication
Sundry items
Purpose and outcome of treatment
The main aim of counseling is to ensure the patient knows how to take their medication safely.
Communication skills of pharmacists can facilitate formation of trusting relationships with patients.
“Every patient should leave the pharmacy knowing what their medications are for and how to take them”
Patients who should always be counseled:
• Confused patients, and their care givers
• Patients who are sight or hearing impaired
• Patients with poor literacy
• Patients whose profile shows a change in
medications or dosing
• New patients or those receiving a medication for
the first time
• Children and parents receiving medication
• Patients taking 4 or more prescribed medications
• Patients using appliances
• Patients misusing drugs
Benefits of patient counseling:
• Satisfaction of having fulfilled his/her
professional duty
• Serving patients and their well being
• Improves patient compliance
• Pharmacy is seen as ‘Professional’ or ‘Caring’
pharmacy
• Formation of trusting relationship with
patients
“Patient counseling leads to a positive behavior by which the patient is motivated to adhere to their
medications”
REFERENCES
• www.who.int
• www.medicines-partnership.org
• Subish Palaian, Mukhyaprana Prabhu, P Ravi Shanka. Patient Counseling by Pharmacist -A Focus on Chronic
Illness. Pak. J. Pharm. Sci., 2006, Vol. 19(1), 62-65.