Patient-Centered Communication

Introduction -

The aim of patient-centered communication is to focus on improving the patient's experience of care, achieving better health outcomes, and reducing the cost of health care. If a better health strategy is not implemented, the morbidity and mortality resulting from chronic illnesses will be uncontrollable as people age. Some improvements have been made in the health care services regarding patient wellness, but optimal health is not up to the expectation. Pharmacists have a better understanding of an individual patient, including their experience of illness and medication. Pharmacists have good knowledge and help patients to a greater extent by developing realistic and safe treatment plans. It is very important for the patient to get involved in their care and deal with managing complex chronic conditions by understanding and adhering to the treatment plan. Pharmacists can make patients stick to participating fully in the treatment goal and advise others also to do so.

What Is Patient-Centered Communication?

The concept of patient-centered communication includes including and understanding a patient's ideas, concerns towards their health, their willpower to get treated and cured fastly, cultural and psychological contexts, and reaching a shared understanding of patient problems and treatments. It is important for the patient to play a more participative role in ensuring that they are interested in getting cured and are worried about their ill health.

• The motive of patient-centered care is to understand the value of time.

• Sometimes patients are not able to fully involve their initial concerns before being interrupted by the provider.

• The patient should be very much aware of their illness and the need for doctors to get treatment as soon as possible.

• Patients should be very aware of the treatment going on for them and also the medications prescribed by the health care provider.

• The medicine bought by the patient should always be evidence-based, which includes the doctor's prescription, where the prescribed medicines are clearly written to avoid any confusion about purchasing the wrong medicine with high or low doses.

• A patient-centered approach requires knowledge of the quality of the patient and their experience of illness and medication.

• Pharmacists indicate the effectiveness, safety, and adherence of the medication to the patients only by understanding the patient's beliefs, attitudes, and behavior toward health.

What Is the Role of Patient-Centered Communication?

The goal of patient-centered communication is to reach the whole person’s personality, medical history, intake of medicines, and their types in order to understand their problem, the treatment goals, and the treatment barriers. With the awareness of medication dispensing roles, pharmacists must become competent in patient-centered communication. Pharmacists generally save many patients money and go through doctor’s consultations by just knowing their medical history and prescribing them the best medication. This saves the patient time and money both, and also the prescribed medication works. Pharmacists are well knowledgeable in terms of drugs which is as equal to a doctor of medicine, and provide the patients a better service.

What Is the Best Practice for Patient-Centered Communication?

Pharmacists deal with certain responsibilities regarding patient care. Because pharmacists are the first point of contact for healthcare access in many rural nations, they play an important role in enhancing individual and community well-being by treating a variety of health conditions. Their knowledge and easy access to patients make this possible. Regardless of the practice setting, patient-centered communication, such as openness, active listening, and plain speaking, are three general skills in which all pharmacists should become competent. There are a few points that can explain the actual role of pharmacists in patient-centered communication:

• Openness: Two ways to demonstrate that a person is open and makes themselves available over time are to be accessible and to respect the patient's opinions. Additionally, they let the patients know that their concerns and time are insignificant. Instead, using their name in a kind greeting, smiling, paying attention, and maintaining good eye contact all help establish a connection and bond with patients.

• Active Listening: By displaying engaged body language, such as open posture, maintaining eye contact, and expressing genuine interest, pharmacists can encourage both verbal and non-verbal motivation while effectively conveying messages in a clear and understandable manner. Additionally, confirming the patient's understanding and limiting the number of questions directed at them can further demonstrate a sincere interest on the part of the pharmacist. There should be open-ended questions using the words ‘what’ or 'how’ instead of those that can be answered with ‘yes’ or 'no’ in order to collect the patient's perspective. The healthcare provider should listen to each and every sentence of the patient carefully and write on the case history sheets in the patient's own words.

• Speaking Plainly: The level of health literacy is the capacity for a person to receive, evaluate, and comprehend the critical health information required to make informed health decisions. It is helpful to consider all patients as having low health literacy and use appropriate communication techniques that ensure understanding. It is important to slow down and speak in plain, non-medical language and allow time for patients and families to ask questions and allow patients to ask questions. In other words, nine out of ten adults may lack the skills needed to manage their health and prevent disease.

Conclusion:

Pharmacists have an important role in taking care of patients. They need to consider the patient's needs and situation in a holistic way, including their emotions, mind, social environment, and physical health. Pharmacists use practical methods to communicate with patients, making sure they feel involved and creating a relationship built on trust. This helps patients gain a clear understanding of the situation, treatment goals, and any challenges that may affect their health. Only then can a realistic plan of care be developed and followed and, in turn, increase the likelihood of improved health outcomes. The healthcare providers, including all the staff members of the hospitals and clinics, should take the responsibility of taking extra care of the patient coming with injuries and pain.