Patient counselling

How it is used

A central part of pharmacy practice, exams and placements. Pharmacists counsel patients on new medicines, inhaler technique or how to take antibiotics. Good patient counselling uses plain words, checks understanding (for example with the teach-back method) and adds written information.

Example sentences

1. Patient counselling for a new inhaler should include a check of the patient's technique.

2. We have a quiet room for patient counselling at the back of the pharmacy.

Common collocations

• provide patient counselling
• counsel a patient
• counselling session
• counselling points

Related terms

• pharmacistA health professional trained in medicines who checks prescriptions, supplies medicines, advises people on using them safely and works with doctors on patients' treatment.
• adherenceThe extent to which a patient takes a medicine as agreed with the prescriber, at the right dose and times and for the right length of time.
• dispenseTo prepare and supply a medicine to a patient against a prescription, usually after checking it, labelling it and explaining how to use it.
• medication reviewA structured check of all the medicines a patient takes, usually done with the patient, to make sure each one is still needed, effective, safe and taken correctly.
• take with foodA common instruction meaning that a medicine should be taken during or just after a meal, often to reduce stomach upset or to improve absorption.

More terms: Dispensing and Counselling

• expiry date
• dispensing label
• patient information leaflet
• compounding
• cold chain