Workshop 3 – Patient empowerment & communication

Linked to EAHP Statements:
Section 4: Clinical Pharmacy Services

ACPE UAN: 0475-0000-16-026-L04-P. An application based activity.

Abstract

We as health professionals should give personal advice and information to patients or caregivers to enable them to get the best treatment outcomes.

Many patients seek knowledge about the disease and treatment on the net. Indeed, patients these days are knowledgably with regard to their conditions and this needs to be recognised and respected.

Good treatment begins with a patient awareness, who can take personal responsibility for their therapy. In order for patients to make right choices, we need to structure a good dialogue.

The question is, are we prepared to have a dialogue rather than a monologue with patients or caregivers, and, to recognise the patient –professional partnership?

This would need professionals to be prepared to negotiate with patients as an equal, respecting their knowledge and involve them in making decisions about their treatment. Have we have created the necessary conditions required to allow our patient to express their views and to engage them in the decision making process? How do we evaluate if our patient feels able to ask questions if there is something that they don’t understand or have concerns about?

This new paradigm will be presented and discussed through case studies in the context of Pharmaceutical Care.

Teaching goals:

• To present the background to patient engagement;
• To present the ethical and methodological exigencies for good communication patient;
• To present the impact of poor communication.