Patient counselling involves providing medication information to patients or their representatives, emphasizing the importance of understanding medication use, compliance, and managing side effects. Key steps in the counselling process include preparing for the session, effective communication during the session, and ensuring patient understanding before closing. Effective counsellors should possess good listening skills, empathy, and the ability to communicate confidently while addressing the patient's needs.

1. PATIENTCOUNSELLING
BY SURYAKANT SHASHI
B.PHARM 4TH YEAR

2. DEFINITION:
• Patient counselling is defined as providing
medication information orally or in a written form
to the patient or their representatives on direction
of use advice on side effects precaution , storage
diet and lifestyle modification.

3. OBJECTIVES:
• Patient should recognize the importance of medication .
• Patient should ensure better patient compliance.
• A working relationship and a foundation for continuous interaction
and consultation should be established.
• Patient understanding of strategies to deal with medication side
effect and drug interaction should be improved.
• Should ensure better patient compliance.

4. • Patient becomes an informed ,efficient And active participant in
disease treatment and self care management
• Pharmacist should perceived as a professional who offers
pharmaceutical care.
• Drug interaction and adverse drug reactions should be prevented.

5. COMMUNICATION SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE
COUNSELLING:
Verbal communication:
• language
• tone
• volume
• rate of speed
Non verbal communication:
• body language
• movement
• proximity
• eye contact
• facial expression
COUNSELLING PROCESS USES FOLLOWING:

6. COMMUNICATION DURING DRUG
THERAPY:
• Purpose of medication.
• How medication work.
• Dose and duration of therapy.
• Goals of therapy.
• Adverse effect and how to deal with them.
• Specific drug issues.

7. QUALITIES OF A GOOD COUNSELLOR:
• Be a good listener.
• Be flexible.
• Be empathetic.
• Be non judgmental.
• Be tolerant.
• Communicate confidently.

8. STEP DURING PATIENT COUNSELLING:
Following are the step to be followed during patient counselling:
• Preparing for the session.
• Opening of the session.
• Counselling content.
• Closing the session.

9. STEP 1: PREPARING FOR THE SESSION
• Counselling develop upon the knowledge and skills of the
counsellor.
• Pharmacist should know as much possible about the patient
treatment details.
• In community pharmacy the source of information include patient
and prescription or a record of previous dispensing.
• If the pharmacist is unfamiliar about drug which is received from the
patient ,go for drug information reference.
• Before counselling ,you have to consider about mental physical
status.

10. STEP 2 :OPENING FOR THE SESSION
• The pharmacist should introduce himself/herself to the patient and
treat them by name.
• It is best to use title such as Mr. ,Mrs. ,miss. E.g. -hello Mr., any name
, my name is Suryakant shashi and I am your clinical pharmacist.
• I would like to tell about the medication.
• Do you have a few minutes to spend with me.
• Pharmacist gather information from the patient disease, medication.

11. • Other information may relevant include previous drug allergies,
past medication history, personal habit such as diet, smoking,
alcohol consumption etc.
• Use open ended question, such as 'what did your doctor tell you
about your illness?', what do you know about your disease, 'can
you tell me about the symptoms’, etc.
• During counselling ,the pharmacist should avoid asking question
directly in embarrassing way.

12. COUNSELLING CONTENT:
• Name and strength of medication.
• The reason why it has been prescribed, or how it work.
• How to take the medication.
• Expected duration of treatment.
• Expected benefit of treatment.
• Possible adverse effect.
• Possible medication or dietary interaction.

13. • Storage recommendation.
• Minimum duration required to show therapeutic benefit.
• What to do if a dose is missed.
• Special monitoring requirement, for ex-blood test.

14. CLOSING THE SESSION
• Before closing the session, it is essential to check patient
understanding.
• This can be achieved by feedback question, such as can you
remember what is this medication is for?
• Or how long should you take this medication?
• Ask the patient about any doubt.
• Before final closure and if time permits summarize the main point in
logical order.

15. REFERENCE:
• Dr. Hazare A. Community Pharmacy & Management. Nirali Publication,
2022, 1st edition, pp: 5.1-5.42.
• Mistry S. Patient counseling. Solution Pharmacy, 2022. Available from:
https://solutionpharmacy.in/patient-counseling/
• Dr. Yadav AV, Dubai A. Community Pharmacy & Management. Nirali
Publication 2022, 1st edition, Chapter 5.
• Ganpisetti R. Strategies to overcome barriers of patient counselling. Slide
share, 2018. Available from:
https://www.slideshare.net/rameshganpisetti/strategies-to-overcome-
barriers-of-patient-counselling