Applying Transactional Analysis and Personality Assessment to Improve Patient Counseling and Communication Skills

Abstract

Objective. To teach pharmacy students how to apply transactional analysis and personality assessment to patient counseling to improve communication. Design. A lecture series for a required pharmacy communications class was developed to teach pharmacy students how to apply transactional analysis and personality assessment to patient counseling. Students were asked to apply these techniques and to report their experiences. A personality selfassessment was also conducted. Assessment. After attending the lecture series, students were able to apply the techniques and demonstrated an understanding of the psychological factors that may affect patient communication, an appreciation for the diversity created by different personality types, the ability to engage patients based on adult-to-adult interaction cues, and the ability to adapt the interactive patient counseling model to different personality traits. Conclusion. Students gained a greater awareness of transactional analysis and personality assessment by applying these concepts. This understanding will help students communicate more effectively with patients.

Developing Pharmacy Student Communication Skills through Role-Playing and Active Learning

“…[8][9][10] Employing an integrative approach to the theory of psychology and psychotherapy by recognizing and adjusting to varying personalities and perceptions can influence patient counseling and communication. 9,12 Medina demonstrated the value of traditional class discussions, student reflections, baseline, and follow-up counseling activities in developing communication skills. 9 Hyvarinen and colleagues found that stand-alone courses for pharmacy are appropriate for teaching pharmacyspecific communication skills in vocational circumstances.…”

An Individual Development Plan for Pharmacy Students for Career Planning and Tracking Accreditation Standards

“…12,13,14,19 In addition, many programs have introduced pharmacy students to the use of selfassessment tools such as Myers Brigg, Strength Finders, emotional intelligence, grit, and the Birkman Method. 20,21,22,23,24 Addition of the IDP facilitates tracking of each individual student and aids in ensuring that the available programmatic offerings to promote personal and professional development are being synthesized and applied as intended.…”

Guiding Principles for Student Leadership Development in the Doctor of Pharmacy Program to Assist Administrators and Faculty Members in Implementing or Refining Curricula

“…12 The pharmacy education literature has highlighted work that focuses on the self-development of students related to discovery of personality, emotional intelligence, talents, and strengths. 9,[37][38][39] Disciplines outside the profession have described personal growth projects and other mechanisms to encourage a student's focus on their own self-development. 40 Guiding Principle 4: Leadership development should take place in a wide variety of settings including didactic curriculum, experiential curriculum, and extracurricular involvement.…”