4. Ending the consultation
Ending the consultation
Closing remarks
- The information that a patient receives when starting a new medicine can feel overwhelming, particularly if they have received a diagnosis of a condition that is new to them at the same time. Asking this question gives embarrassment-free permission to ask for some key information to be repeated, which could make all the difference in terms of a patient’s confidence in – and hence compliance with – their new medicine
- As a follow-up, it is worth underlining the importance of adhering to their treatment regime: correctly instilling the eye drops at the appropriate times and having regular monitoring will pick up on any issues. Be reassuring, stating that most people with glaucoma have a good quality of life and do not go blind, but remind them that they themselves are the biggest influence in their glaucoma outcomes.
- The patient may not have any questions at this point, but suggest they make a note of any that occur in the future and pop back in to ask them
- This may also be a good point at which to remind the patient to order repeat prescriptions in a timely manner to ensure they don’t run out.
- Signposting to this patient organisation and other relevant resources such as information published by the NHS and RNIB can be a useful support to patients
- Flag up the fact that glaucoma can run in families, so close relatives may wish to be checked for the condition and may also be eligible for a free NHS sight test.
A reflective account on glaucoma in practice – an example
Conversations with patients starting on glaucoma medication can be used as part of your reflective account for a revalidation submission. An example follows:
“There is good evidence of the positive impact on adherence of early input from community pharmacists when treatment is first started. This is particularly important in light of the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic when patients have continued to struggle to gain access to other healthcare professionals in the way that they used to.
Having read a CPD module in Pharmacy Magazine about conversations with people with glaucoma who have been prescribed a new medicine, I reflected on my current practice and identified ways in which I could be more proactive in exploring with patients their understanding of their new eye drops.
Chronic open angle glaucoma is relatively common – it is something that I could expect to see at least weekly – so I have briefed my dispensing team to be on the lookout for new or changed prescriptions for relevant eye drops. When this happens, I use the structure and tips from the module to guide my interaction with the patient. Feedback has been positive, with patients saying they feel more confident as a result of their increased understanding of the condition and medication, and more motivated to remember to take their medicine(s) as prescribed.
In terms of the GPhC Standards, I have demonstrated person-centred care (Standard 1) in my conversations with patients on the topic, partnership with others (Standard 2) by working with my pharmacy team on identifying patients for whom this intervention may be relevant, and professional judgement (Standard 5) by identifying this was a clinical area of growth for me.”