PEBC Patient Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient discloses recreational cannabis use when asked about current medications. The pharmacist should:
- Refuse to counsel the patient until they stop using cannabis
- Acknowledge the disclosure non-judgementally and assess for potential drug interactions (Correct answer)
- Report the patient to their physician without discussing further
- Document nothing to protect patient privacy
Correct answer: Acknowledge the disclosure non-judgementally and assess for potential drug interactions
Non-judgemental assessment allows the pharmacist to identify cannabis-drug interactions and provide harm reduction counselling.
Question 2: Which communication technique is MOST effective for confirming a patient's understanding of a complex dosing schedule?
- Handing the patient a printed dosing chart
- Using the teach-back method by asking the patient to repeat the schedule in their own words (Correct answer)
- Asking 'Do you understand?' after providing instructions
- Repeating the schedule twice verbally
Correct answer: Using the teach-back method by asking the patient to repeat the schedule in their own words
Teach-back requires active patient demonstration of understanding rather than passive agreement.
Question 3: A patient asks the pharmacist to keep their HIV medication out of the dispensing bag label visible to others. The pharmacist should:
- Decline because standard labelling is legally required
- Explore discreet packaging or blister pack options while meeting all regulatory labelling requirements (Correct answer)
- Transfer the prescription to a specialty pharmacy
- Ask the patient why they are concerned about privacy
Correct answer: Explore discreet packaging or blister pack options while meeting all regulatory labelling requirements
Pharmacists should explore options that balance privacy concerns with regulatory labelling obligations.
Question 4: When explaining a new antibiotic prescription, the pharmacist should emphasize WHICH of the following FIRST?
- The cost of the prescription
- The importance of completing the full course even if symptoms improve early (Correct answer)
- The brand name versus generic name distinction
- Storage requirements for the medication
Correct answer: The importance of completing the full course even if symptoms improve early
Completing the full antibiotic course prevents treatment failure and reduces antibiotic resistance.
Question 5: A patient with schizophrenia declines to take their antipsychotic medication and says 'I don't need it.' The pharmacist's BEST approach is:
- Immediately contact the patient's caregiver
- Explore the patient's concerns, provide information, and support shared decision-making (Correct answer)
- Dispense the medication and say nothing further
- Document the refusal and end the interaction
Correct answer: Explore the patient's concerns, provide information, and support shared decision-making
Exploring concerns and engaging in shared decision-making respects patient autonomy and may identify modifiable barriers.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a CLOSED-ENDED question in pharmacy counselling?
- 'What concerns do you have about this medication?'
- 'Are you taking this medication with food?' (Correct answer)
- 'How has this medication been working for you?'
- 'What side effects have you noticed?'
Correct answer: 'Are you taking this medication with food?'
Closed-ended questions elicit yes/no or single-word answers and are useful for clarifying specific facts.
Question 7: A pharmacist is counselling a patient who is visually impaired. The MOST appropriate adaptation is to:
- Use larger printed materials only
- Offer verbal counselling, audio resources, or braille labels based on patient preference (Correct answer)
- Refer the patient to a specialized pharmacy
- Provide written materials in a larger font and end the consultation
Correct answer: Offer verbal counselling, audio resources, or braille labels based on patient preference
Accessible care means offering multiple formats and asking the patient which modality they prefer.
PEBC Patient Communication 3
A patient discloses recreational cannabis use when asked about current medications.
The pharmacist should: