APC Patient Communication Skills 3

Question 1

A patient becomes visibly upset after learning their medication is not covered by insurance. Which response demonstrates BEST therapeutic communication?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the patient's frustration and explore affordable alternatives

Answer

Acknowledging emotion first (empathy) then problem-solving (alternatives) aligns with patient-centered care and therapeutic communication principles.

Question 2

When counseling an elderly patient on multiple medications, which strategy BEST reduces the risk of medication errors at home?

Accepted Answer

Use a written medication action plan along with verbal counseling and confirm understanding

Answer

Combining verbal counseling with a written action plan and confirming understanding via teach-back significantly reduces medication errors in elderly patients.

Question 3

Which of the following BEST describes the principle of motivational interviewing (MI) in pharmacy practice?

Accepted Answer

Using a patient's own motivations to guide behavior change in a collaborative way

Answer

MI is a collaborative, patient-centered approach that elicits and strengthens a patient's own motivation for change rather than imposing external pressure.

Question 4

A pharmacist notices a patient has been collecting benzodiazepine prescriptions from multiple prescribers. The MOST appropriate action is to:

Accepted Answer

Raise the concern privately and compassionately with the patient, and consult relevant guidelines or the prescriber

Answer

Addressing potential drug-seeking behavior requires a private, non-judgmental conversation with the patient and consultation with clinical guidelines or the prescriber.

Question 5

In the context of the APC's OSCEs, which domain of communication is assessed when a candidate demonstrates empathy toward a distressed patient?

Accepted Answer

Affective communication

Answer

Affective communication encompasses emotional responsiveness, empathy, and the ability to acknowledge and respond to a patient's feelings.

(APC) Australian Pharmacy Council Practice Test

(APC) Australian Pharmacy Council Practice Test

APC Patient Communication Skills 3