Development of communication education that facilitates first-year pharmacy students' respect for patients
- VernacularTitle:患者を理解するための薬学部1年生を対象としたコミュニケーション教育の実践
- Author:
Manako HANYA
;
Hiroyuki KAMEI
;
Kotaro IIDA
;
Kazuhisa MATSUBA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
first-year pharmacy student;
pharmacy education;
communication education;
reflection;
respect for patients
- From:Medical Education
2009;40(6):445-455
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
Pharmacists must have a holistic understanding of patients and should make efforts to communicate with patients to support their medical therapy. In this study, we analyzed the effects of communication education by role-playing on first-year students who did not possess pharmaceutical knowledge or an image of pharmacists. All 248 first-year pharmacy students were educated about communication through the following four steps: 1) understanding the basics of communication, 2) the importance of role-playing by pharmacists and patients, 3) observation of role-playing by senior students and patients, and 4) observation of role-playing by classmates and simulated patients. After each step, students were given time to reflect and to write their impressions. These written comments were classified into the following four categories: 1) communication with patients, 2) respect for patients, 3) the role of pharmacists, and 4) the student's own attitudes and skills. As a result of our education program, more than 90% of the first-year students were able to understand the role of a pharmacist and why a pharmacist requires communication skills. The communication education made the students more aware of the patient in health-care.These results suggest that education increasing first-year students' understanding of and respect for patients is an essential component of professional education.