Patient information is of vital importance in the correct use of medicines. Lack of information and misunderstanding contribute to the failure of the therapy, thus wasting resources and adding to the costs of care.
Patient information must respect patient autonomy, improve health and enhance the outcome of medical treatment by:
| (a) | empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their medical treatments and take responsibility for their own health care; |
| (b) | improving communication between patients and health care providers; and |
| (c) | aiding and encouraging effective use of medicines. |
| 2.8.2 | General considerations |
| (a) | Pharmacists and other persons registered with Council must (within their scope of practice) give advice and information to patients on how to use medicines safely and effectively to maximise therapeutic outcomes. |
| (b) | Pharmacists must have access to as much information as they require within their ethical and professional judgement to meet the individual needs of patients. Such information should include the patient's medical/clinical records. |
| (c) | Although specific presentation and language must be adapted to local communities and public comprehension, information presented to patients must as far as possible be nationally consistent. |
| (d) | Pharmacists must assess and, where appropriate, comment on promotional materials for medicines and other products associated with health. |
| (e) | Upon receipt of a prescription, or a request for dispensing of medicine on own initiative, a pharmacist must counsel each patient or patient's caregiver on matters which, in the pharmacist's professional judgement, will enhance or optimise the medicine therapy prescribed. |
| (g) | Care must be taken to assess the wishes of the prescriber and the information and counselling needs of individual patients. |
| (h) | Written information must be used to supplement verbal communication as appropriate. |
| (i) | The pharmacist must assess each patient's ability to understand the information imparted by question and answer and must be able to modify his/her approach accordingly. Care should be taken with counselling where understanding is likely to be a problem. |
| (j) | Confidentiality of the patient must be respected. |
| (k) | The provision of advice must take place in a suitable environment and the patient should be put at ease, especially with regard to sensitive information. |
