Module 2: Does your message matter?

Traditionally the pharmacist's role in patient education has focused on medication counselling. Today they are assuming a broader role. Pharmacists working in a variety of settings are having an impact on various aspects of illness especially when working in collaboration with other health care professionals. Evidence of lower A1C levels, better control of blood lipids, and lowering of blood pressure all give testimony to the important role for pharmacists in health education.

Assuming the role of educator in diabetes management has become more important because:

  • People see their pharmacist more often than other health care professionals;
  • Many people with diabetes have not received any education about this condition;
  • The incidence of diabetes is increasing; and
  • Diabetes is a manageable condition; normalizing blood glucose levels reduces or delays the risks of complications.

Objectives

You have completed this module when you are able to:

  1. Describe factors that characterize the process of self-management education for people with diabetes;
  2. Describe the benefits of educating people about their diabetes;
  3. Identify the scope of teaching for people with diabetes that is the responsibility of pharmacists in your practice setting;
  4. Identify ways that you can integrate assumptions about adult learning into your practice;
  5. Identify key components in the teaching learning process;
  6. Describe the importance of goal-setting in the teaching learning process;
  7. Discuss how to overcome barriers in the community-based pharmacy (time, location, interested/disinterested learners, retention of information, literacy, language);
  8. Identify how literacy levels have been linked to the outcomes of diabetes management;
  9. Describe factors that characterize effective communication;
  10. Describe the factors that contribute to spoken and written plain language; and
  11. Explain how to use resources effectively.

To enhance your learning, you may also wish to refer to the "Self-management education" section of the Canadian Pharmacists Journal's supplement on Diabetes. (CPJ 2009;142[SUPPL 1])