Learning outcomes

By the end of the lectures and practical sessions, students will have gained knowledge of the factors that facilitate and hinder the pharmacist–patient relationship, both in community pharmacies and in hospital settings. The importance of the pharmacist’s listening role will be emphasized.

Students will also acquire knowledge of verbal and non-verbal communication skills that can enhance interactions with patients. The value of a structured approach to pharmaceutical consultations will be highlighted.

Finally, students will have the opportunity to practice their relational skills through role-playing exercises.

 

Goals

The aim of this course is to develop in students a relational and communication stance suited to the pharmaceutical context, both in community and hospital settings. The objective is to strengthen the future pharmacist’s listening, observation, and interaction skills in exchanges with patients, thereby optimizing the quality of care and medication safety.

Content

·      Introduction to communication and the pharmacist–patient relationship: communication barriers, verbal and non-verbal communication skills, structured approaches to pharmaceutical interviews.

·      The importance of communication and the pharmacist–patient relationship in community pharmacy.

·      Relational difficulties that may arise and how to respond.

·      Dialogue between the hospital clinical pharmacist and the patient.

 

Table of contents

1.    Introductory session: Information on the organization of practical sessions; group reflection on barriers and facilitators of communication in community pharmacy.

2.    Video analysis session: General introduction to communication and the pharmacist–patient relationship; analysis of a video of a pharmaceutical interview in community pharmacy; presentation of the mini-guide to pharmaceutical interviewing.

3.    Clinical pharmacy session: Focus on hospital clinical pharmacy; communication between hospital pharmacists and inpatients; therapeutic adherence; motivational interviewing.

4.    Hospital pharmacy session: Focus on community pharmacy practice and direct interactions at the counter; the importance of communication; possible relational difficulties and how to respond.

5.    Community pharmacy observation session: Practical observation exercises (see below).

Exercices

·      Observation of the pharmacist–patient relationship in a community pharmacy.

·      Discussion with a community pharmacist about relational difficulties in consultations.

·      Role-playing simulations of interviews in the didactic pharmacy.

·      Reflective and self-critical analysis of personal video recordings from role-playing sessions.

Teaching methods

·      Lectures illustrated with videos.

·      Guest lectures from practicing pharmacists sharing their experience.

·      Observation in community pharmacies.

·      Role-playing in the didactic pharmacy.


⚠️ Practical sessions are mandatory.

Attendance at lectures, community pharmacy observation, and role-playing sessions is a prerequisite for submission of the final assignment.

Failure to submit the assignment will result in no grade being awarded.

Assignments submitted late or in a manifestly careless manner will not be accepted or graded.

 

Assessment method

The assessment consists of an individual written assignment based on the activities and learning acquired during the year’s practical sessions.

Access to the assessment is conditional on compliance with attendance requirements (see above).



These assessment methods may be adapted in the event of exceptional circumstances, whether related to the organization of the course or independent of it, including public health situations.


 

Sources, references and any support material

·      The Pharmacist–Patient Dialogue – Melanie J. Rantucci (Pro-Officina).

·      Mini-Guide to the Pharmacist–Patient Relationship (UNamur, Department of Psychology).

·      Seminar materials.

 

Language of instruction

French