Discourse analysis is the study of forms and modes of communication in everyday life with the aim of making analytical deductions; it is also the study of the relationship between language and the socio-psychological characteristics of a person.
The study I selected looked at the role of the pharmacist advice in medication review consultations with patients aged 80 years or more. The study was done in patients’ homes and the selected patients had been previously admitted to the hospital and it aimed to measure the extent to which advice given by pharmacist to patients was accepted.
The study showed that pharmacist dealing with this group of patients (80 years and above) had poor communication skills and advice was often rejected and there were difficulties during consultation with the pharmacist rarely initiating advice.
This study showed that the extended role of the pharmacist is uncertain in older patients’ management of their medicines and that reception and acknowledgement of advice in medication review consultations with pharmacists is affected by context and communicative competence and may lead to negative health gain.
British Medical Journal (2007).The advice giving role of the pharmacist during consultations for medication review with patients aged 80 years or more [online].
Available at: http://www.bmj.com/content/334/7603/1101
The study has improved my understanding in these ways:
- That communication plays a major role in a patient’s perception of his or her illness.
- That there is a link between mode of communication better health outcomes.
