Download Pharmacy and Psychology

Pharmacy and Psychology
Betty Chewning, PhD, FAPhA
Professor, U of WI School of
Pharmacy
The Learners:
Pharmacy Graduate Students
&
Professional Students (PharmD)
Is Psychology Required?
Professional Students:
• Integrated in 1st semester course on Psychosocial Issues & Pharmacy Management
– Patient (PT) perspective presented by PTs
– Theory presented (Self-Efficacy, Self Regulation,
HBM, Transtheoretical Model, etc.)
• Integrated in last semester course on Patient
Communication & Behaviors
– Angry, anxious, depressed, overwhelmed PT
Is Psychology Required?
Graduate Students:
• Required core seminar: “Social Behavioral
Theories in Pharmacy, Drug Use and Health
Behavior”
– Topics: Provider-PT relationship; communication;
adherence; decision-making/concordance; social
support & coping; self care/ seeking care/ selfmanagement; provider adherence;
– Theories: Self-Regulation; TPB; Transtheoretical
Model; Health Belief Model; Social Cognitive Theory
(Self-Efficacy); Social Marketing; etc.
Role/Rationale – PharmD.
• Psychological principles underpin skills
needed for effective encounters with PTs
– Elicit PT concerns, agendas
– Listen actively
– Respond empathically
– Educate PT responsively (across diversity)
– ID & teach PT self monitoring
– Medication management (Pt, MD, RPh)
Role/Rationale – Grad Students
• Prepare theory based researchers
– Some social science grad students take our
course; Our students often take theirs
• Need to use state of the art social science
research methods
– Psychology graduate statistics courses help in
addition to the sociology courses they take
Role/Rationale Grad Students
• Draw on scientific principles in applied
pharmacy research & teaching:
– PT perceptions
• Roles (RPh & PT)
• PT Models of health & how evaluate
– PT decisions, medication use & Influences
• Prescription meds, OTCs, CAMs
– Multidisciplinary Communication & Marketing
Special Issues
• We conduct translational research
• We use findings to translate & promote
best practice skills to pharmacy students
– Example: Conversation analysis documents
impact of different forms of asking patients“Any questions?” decreases likelihood PT will
ask a Q. “What questions do you have?”
increases likelihood PT will ask a Q.
Opportunities and Barriers
• Opportunities for psychologists to teach
pharmacists:
– Pharmacy embraces interdisciplinary faculty
– PharmD. courses: communication, statistics,
psycho-social patient perspectives
– Grad courses: social behavioral theory,
methods
– Need for researchers writing NIH grants
Barriers
• Barriers for psychologists to teach
pharmacists:
– Emphasis on translation to pharmacy
applications (PT, RPh in community, clinic, &
less so hospital)
– Lack of familiarity with health care system
– Lack of familiarity with RPh & PT roles
– Lack of familiarity with community pharmacy
Implications for Psychology
• Identify possibilities for joint academic programs
in training
– PharmD and PhD in psychology
• Consider more interprofessional team taught
coursework
– Both at professional and graduate level
• Consider the discipline of health psychology
both within research and education
– Require coursework across departments
Preparing for the Future
• Health psychology, health communication,
health system coursework useful
• Strong methods background for research
key
– In research institutions it matters as much as
coursework taken
Role for APA
• Identify examples of interdisciplinary courses featuring
psychologists
• Identify courses by psychologists in other disciplines
• Highlight research relevant to the targeted disciplines
• Develop a SIG for those teaching/ conducting research
in other targeted disciplines
– Encourage this group to brainstorm how to promote