Technical and Theoretical Aspects of: Patient Counseling

Abstract

A common agreement in many of the future roles proposed for pharmacists in the ambulatory patient care area involves an educational responsibility to patients. To provide patient education, pharmacists may rely on mechanical audiovisual aids. The optimal effectiveness of patient education programs of this type can be achieved only by careful preparation of the audiovisual aids. In producing such instructional aids consideration should be directed at both the technical and theoretical aspects of persuasive audiovisual techniques. The goal of any patient education effort is to instill a desire in patients to comply with their therapy and in so doing maintain or improve their health status. It is important to understand the theories of attitude change needed to provide effective patient education. It is equally important that the audiovisual material utilized be prepared using recognized principles for instructional presentations. Technical considerations in the preparation of audiovisual aids will insure that the program has an impact on the viewing audience. The pharmacist may be especially suited to counsel patients on the correct use of medication. Innovative methods may be needed to provide effective patient education services. The audiovisual method is one technique which may be used to provide patient education. Practical applications of theoretical and technical principles for audiovisual instruction should be used to prepare effective educational materials. The goal proposed by advocates of patient education is to help patients acquire new knowledge, attitudes, and behavior that will improve their capability to care for themselves more adequately. Those who participate in planned educational programs have exhibited greater compliance and cooperation. This, in turn, can result in fewer hospital admissions.23 Schoenrich24 explains that patient education requires consideration of the psychological, sociological, and cultural aspects of the population if changes in patient attitudes and behavior are to be made. It is important to be sensitive to the patient and his condition and consider the “whole” patient.