Korean J Clin Pharm.  2015 Mar;25(1):34-41. 10.0000/kjcp.2015.25.1.34.

Challenges in Patient Counseling and Medication Reconciliation for Foreign Inpatients in Korea

• Jin HK
• Rhie S

• KMID: 2226399
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjcp.2015.25.1.34

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This study is to evaluate the awareness, needs, and barriers in patient counseling for hospitalized foreign patients. As the number of foreign population increases in Korea, demands on quality of Korean health services are rapidly increasing. Previously most of the studies have focused on the availability and utilization of healthcare service, and prevalence of disease for foreigners, however, no study has been conducted on quality of direct-patient care such as patient counseling. METHOD: In the present study, a survey was conducted on a total of 161 participants between March 7 and May 7 in 2014. The study subjects were consisted with 103 foreign patients who had experienced inpatient care within 1 year and 58 hospital pharmacists who work in the hospital with foreign inpatients.
RESULTS
Firstly, the hospital pharmacists were highly aware of the necessity of counseling for foreign inpatients. Secondly, the largest portion of barrier to patient counseling service was accounted a lack of foreign language skills. Lastly, the monitoring of efficacy, potential adverse reactions and discharge follow-up were emphasized.
CONCLUSION
Effective communication skills would be essential to improve pharmaceutical care services to foreign inpatients.

Keyword

foreign inpatients; hospital pharmacists; patient counseling

MeSH Terms

Counseling*
Delivery of Health Care
Emigrants and Immigrants
Follow-Up Studies
Health Services
Humans
Inpatients*
Korea*
Medication Reconciliation*
Pharmaceutical Services
Pharmacists
Prevalence