Developing interprofessional communication skills for pharmacists to improve their ability to collaborate with other professions

Successful communication between health professionals is a prerequisite for collaborative practice. Clinical pharmacists completed a learning and practice module introducing them to a framework for successful interprofessional communication (IPC) in the course of their postgraduate studies. A face-to-face discussion of a contemporary clinical topic with a health professional was then scheduled, mainly with junior doctors, in their practice setting. An exploratory case study methodology was employed to investigate pharmacists’ written reflections on their experience applying their newly acquired IPC skills. Thematic analysis of reflections developed five categories relating to interprofessional collaboration, learning, and education. Themes describing pharmacists’ preconceptions about the health professional and scheduled interprofessional encounter, how it allowed them to learn about doctors’ and other health professionals’ practice and build collaborative relationships were identified. Reflections also elaborated that applying the communication framework and strengthening of collaboration created opportunities for IPE, with added observations about these increasing potential impact on patient care and change of practice. Analysis of anonymous feedback provided by the health professionals yielded similar themes and was integrated for triangulation. Applying successful IPC skills in healthcare settings may increase interprofessional collaboration and create practice models which facilitate interprofessional learning in health profession programmes.