A Behavioural Approach to Pharmacy Practice

Book excerpt: The traditional emphasis on the chemistry, legal and professional aspects of pharmacy is vital for the education of a competent pharmacist. However, that knowledge alone is unlikely to guarantee effective performance in the primary health care environment. There is a wealth of social, behavioral and psychological knowledge that pharmacy students must be aware of in their training. This book is the first supporting text for the social and behavioral studies part of the pharmacy curriculum. It introduces the reader to personal skills, social skills, sociology and health psychology that are relevant to the practice of pharmacy. The importance of effective communication, both verbal and non-verbal, with different ethnic groups, the multidisciplinary health care team and in the provision of health promotion is dealt with in detail. Patient/client relationships and the use of psychology in pharmacy are examined with case material and supportive data to help students tackle unfamiliar behavioral and psychological perspectives.