Patient Counseling Flashcards
7 cards from real CPHT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Counseling flashcards as text
A patient picking up levothyroxine asks when to take it. Which instruction is correct?
Answer: Take on an empty stomach 30–60 minutes before breakfast
Levothyroxine absorption is significantly reduced by food, calcium, and antacids, so it must be taken on an empty stomach.
When dispensing a medication that requires refrigeration, the pharmacy technician should:
Answer: Attach a 'Refrigerate' auxiliary label and verbally inform the patient
Attaching the auxiliary label and informing the patient ensures they store the medication correctly to preserve its stability.
A patient is given an auto-injector (EpiPen) for anaphylaxis. Who is responsible for training the patient on correct injection technique?
Answer: The pharmacist
Training patients on injection devices is a clinical counseling task that is the pharmacist's responsibility.
Which of the following best describes the purpose of a medication guide (MedGuide) required by the FDA?
Answer: To inform patients of serious risks associated with certain medications
FDA-required MedGuides are patient-directed documents that communicate serious or important risks for certain high-risk drugs.
A Spanish-speaking patient cannot read the English prescription label. The pharmacy technician should:
Answer: Notify the pharmacist so that translated materials or interpreter services can be arranged
Language barriers must be addressed through proper interpreter services or translated materials coordinated by the pharmacy team.
A patient presents a prescription for phenytoin extended-release capsules. An auxiliary label indicating 'Do NOT crush or chew' is important because:
Answer: Crushing destroys the extended-release coating, causing rapid drug release and toxicity risk
Crushing an extended-release formulation eliminates the controlled-release mechanism, leading to a potentially toxic immediate dose dump.
Which of the following is the MOST appropriate response when a patient reports an unexpected side effect from their medication?
Answer: Refer the patient to the pharmacist for a clinical assessment
Reported side effects require pharmacist evaluation to determine severity, appropriate action, and whether the prescriber must be contacted.