Exploring the Process of Conveying Information about Side Effects: A Qualitative Study among Pharmacists

Pharmacy

Therése Kairuz¹  Damir Krehula²  Thanh Huynh² 

[1] School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, St Lucia campus, Brisbane, 4072, Australia;

关键词: patient counselling;    side effect counselling;    risk;    side effects;    medication;    pharmacist;    information;    communication;    model;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pharmacy1020256

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

This study explored how a sample of Australian pharmacists would convey information about the side effects of a medicine, if they were to counsel a patient. A qualitative method was selected and written responses to a case-based scenario were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The grounded theory approach elicited a fluid and dynamic model for side effect counselling. The study identified strategies for counselling, such as encouraging adherence through emphasising the benefits of the medication, referral to the prescriber, and providing empathy and reassurance to ease anxiety and address concerns. Pharmacists acknowledged the potential for risk, although only a minority used numerical descriptors. The final themes or outcomes were that pharmacists aim to allay fears, minimise harm and promote medication use when counselling about side effects. Professional empathy, the acknowledgment of patient concerns, and the importance of providing tailored information to promote medication adherence, emerged as features of the quality use of medicines. This study contributes to existing literature by identifying the role of allaying patients’ fears when conveying side effect information. It also describes a process to convey tailored information. Implications for practice include the importance of effective use of communication strategies to encourage adherence, as the appropriate use of medication can lead to positive health outcomes.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.