Pharmacist–Patient Communication in Prostate Cancer as a Strategy to Humanize Health Care: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: Pharmacists require effective communication skills to enhance involvement in patient care. Nevertheless, there are few qualitative studies exploring "how" pharmacist-patient communication occurs and none targets patients with cancer. Objective: To describe the perceptions of outpatients with prostate cancer regarding the communication process during clinical pharmacy service in a community pharmacy. Methods: A qualitative study was performed from semistructured interviews with 10 patients. These interviews were audiotape-recorded and transcribed comprehensively, and the data were analyzed using content analysis. The validation of the categories and registration units was made by 2 independent authors and reviewed by a third author. Results: Three categories were established from the content analysis (general perceptions of the pharmacist-patient communication, potentialities of effective communication, and points for improvement). Communication is a complex process and involves, in addition to information exchange, the sharing of thoughts, desires, and fears. Our findings hold that effective communication skills by pharmacist can help patients validate their concerns, develop a trusting patient-pharmacist relationship, address drug therapy problems, and lead to better health outcomes. Conclusion: Pharmacist-patient communication is an important strategy for humanized practice. This allows the pharmacist to see beyond an individual with health problems to a human being with particularized needs.