Analysis by using roter method of interaction process analysis (RIAS) of the ability of pharmacy students to communicate after clinical training for pharmacy

Abstract

Communication education is now necessary for pharmaceutical education since the role of pharmacists has expanded from “medicine-based” to “person-based”. However, a standard for assessing the effectiveness of a communication education program has not been established. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of clinical training in pharmacy for enhancing the ability of pharmacy students to communicate. Role playing with simulated patients was performed by pharmacy students before and after clinical practice for pharmacy, and the effects of learning were analyzed by Roter method of interaction process analysis (RIAS). Analysis by RIAS enabled quantification and objective evaluation of communication by pharmacy students. The results showed improvement of interactive communication, decrease of “Question asking” and “Others” including “Transition words”, and increase of “Partnership behaviors” and “Counsel behaviors”. The pharmacy students became skillful in communication without showing hesitation. The results therefore showed that clinical training contributes to improvement in the ability of pharmacy students to communicate.