John M. Lonie

A Model for Assessing Reflective Practices in Pharmacy Education

Objective. To research the literature and examine assessment strategies used in health education that measure reflection levels and to identify assessment strategies for use in pharmacy education. Methods. A simple systematic review using a 5-step approach was employed to locate peer-reviewed articles addressing assessment strategies in health education from the last 20 years. Results. The literature search identified assessment strategies and rubrics used in health education for assessing levels of reflection. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding reflective rubric use in pharmacy education. Conclusion. Two assessment strategies to assess levels of reflection, including a reflective rubric tailored for pharmacy education, are proposed.

Does the Addition of Writing Into a Pharmacy Communication Skills Course Significantly Impact Student Communicative Learning Outcomes? A Pilot Study

The objective of this study was to determine if the addition of a reflective writing component in a fourth year (P-2) pharmacy communication skills course would significantly affect 2 measures of learning: (1) objective multiple choice examination questions and (2) a patient counseling Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) score. Using a nonequivalent group quasi-experimental retrospective comparison design, 98 randomly selected final examination scores from students taking a nonwriting intensive (NWI) communication skills course were compared with 112 randomly selected final examination scores from students that took a communication skills course in which students engaged in several reflective writing assignments. In addition, 91 randomly selected patient counseling OSCE scores from a NWI course were statistically compared with 112 scores from students that took the writing intensive (WI) course. There were statistically significant improvements in multiple choice examination scores in the group that took the reflective writing communication skills course. There was not a statistically significant difference in patient counseling OSCE scores after students completed the WI course. Studying the effects of using reflective writing assignments in communication skills courses may improve the retention and retrieval of information presented within the course.

Pharmacist-based health coaching: A new model of pharmacist-patient care

&NA; This paper describes a provider‐patient communication process, which although not new to health care in general, is new to the pharmacy profession. Health coaching is a technique that empowers patients to make lasting health behavior changes that improve overall well‐being. It provides patients with health care implementation options that better suit their lifestyle and abilities. Health coaching programs have the potential to foster better health outcomes, especially with patients who are chronically ill or represent an at risk population for medication non‐adherence (e.g. elderly, patients on psychotropic medications). Other health professions (e.g. nursing and medicine) have had success with the implementation of health coaching models. For example, nurse coaching is recognized by the American Nurse Association and recent statistics show 3.1 million nurses in the U.S.A are also trained in nurse coaching. The pharmacy profession has yet to tap the patient‐related benefits of health coaching. This commentary will discuss (i) The theoretical foundations of health coaching (ii) Distinctions between health coaching, motivational interviewing and traditional medication therapy counseling (iii) Training necessary for health coaching; and (iv) How pharmacists can use health coaching in practice.

Pharmacists Levels of Emotionality and Career Success Correlates An Exploratory Study

Objective: The objectives of this study were to (1) examine the relationships between Emotional Thinking Scale (ETS) scores and demographic variables such as income, years worked as a pharmacist, and hours worked per week and (2) determine the distribution of ETS scores among this sample of pharmacists. These objectives are significant to explore because they may provide important data regarding effective and ineffective pharmacist work-related behaviors that affect career and life success. Method: A convenience sample of practicing pharmacists was selected. Participants completed the 8-item ETS and a demographic survey. The ETS predicts how an individual’s thoughts might influence his or her emotions and behaviors. Researchers analyzed participant’s ETS scores with his or her demographic responses. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results: One hundred twenty-five pharmacists completed the survey. Twenty-one percent of the sample scored between slightly high and very extremely high on the ETS. “often being incapacitated by strong feelings” correlated negatively with annual income r = −.309 (P = .008); “relying on feelings to deal with complex situations” correlated negatively with annual income r = −.253 (P = .026), with the “number of years practicing pharmacy” r = −.317 (P = .007), and “number of hours worked each week” r = −.317 (P = .007); and “focusing on details thus losing the big picture” was correlated negatively with annual income r = .215 (P = .05). These findings are consistent with the previous ETS research. Conclusion: The variables of interest in this study were negatively but significantly related. Emotional thinking scores decreased with pharmacy practice experience and may be counterproductive for career goals. Entry-level pharmacy education and continuing education programs may help develop self-awareness to this issue.

How do mental health first aid ™ interventions influence patient help-seeking behaviours? A dilemma for pharmacist mental health first aid responders

In any given year approximately 34% of the 130 million adults in the United States suffer from a mental health condition or disorder. Anxiety and depressive disorders are the most common followed by substance use disorder. Many people who suffer from a mental illness do not seek help. Studies have shown that the stigma of being perceived as having a mental illness prevents many adults from seeking help. Mental Health First Aid ™ (MHFA) is an educational program geared towards educating MHFA responders to assist those who may be experiencing a mental health condition or disorder. Pharmacists are the most accessible healthcare professionals, and many are trained in delivering MHFA. The literature on MHFA suggests that it is an effective educational program for those that take the training course. What is lacking is evidence that MHFA interventions positively affect help-seeking behaviours after an intervention has occurred between a mental health first air responder and an individual requiring MHFA. This paper highlights this issue and provides suggestions for future research.

The use of Eriksonian Hypnosis to improve patient outcomes in pharmacy practice: A novel communication skill for pharmacists

&NA; Motivational Interviewing, pharmacist‐based health coaching and traditional patient counseling techniques all show merit in improving communication between patients and health care providers. However, in order to effectively utilize these techniques one should have the ability to draw upon internal cognitive and psychological resources. Some patients have difficulty obtaining optimal health outcomes due to an unconscious inability to learn and connect with psychological resources. When this is the case, other methods of communication may need to be considered. With the appropriate training, Eriksonian Hypnosis or the use of techniques such as hypnotic language patterns (HLP) have the potential to be implemented into pharmacy practice settings and assist those patients who have previously failed to make positive behavior changes and act upon their health issues.

Cognitive and emotional considerations for pharmacists as they deliver care in new models of pharmacy practice: New directions in social pharmacy research

1551-7 http://d Cognitive and emotional considerations for pharmacists as they deliver care in new models of pharmacy practice: New directions in social pharmacy research John M. Lonie, Ed.D., R.Ph*, Cherie Tsingos-Lucas, B.Pharm, Grad.Cert.Ed.Stud.(HigherEd.), Ph.D. Candidate Long Island University, College of Pharmacy, 75 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201, United States Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, Building A15, Pharmacy Building, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia