Mixed methods evaluation: Pharmacists' experiences and beliefs toward an interactive communication approach to patient interactions

ObjectiveTo characterize pharmacists' experience and explore their beliefs toward an interactive communication technique, the three prime questions (3PQs),where pharmacists ask about patients' understanding of medication's purpose, directions, and monitoring.MethodsMixed method design. Pharmacists were briefly trained and then integrated the 3PQs into their practice for two weeks. Pharmacists recorded their perceptions of patient interactions, completed a survey addressing self-efficacy and role beliefs toward the 3PQs, and participated in a focus group.ResultsEleven pharmacists participated and the 3PQs were used with 176 patients. Most interactions were under 5 min. Pharmacists reported that questions about directions and monitoring were most effective in gathering new information with refills whereas medication purpose question was preferred for new fills. The majority of pharmacists were certain they could use the 3PQs and agreed it was their role. Five themes arose from the qualitative analysis: established communication routines, enhanced patient-pharmacist relationships, good medication history, tailoring of the 3PQs, and impact of pharmacy organization.ConclusionThe 3PQs enabled pharmacists to briefly assess patient medication experiences and tailor education while fostering patient-centered relationships in pharmacy practice.Practice implicationsWhile the 3PQs may enhance pharmacists' patient assessment; integration may challenge pharmacists' work routine.