Effective communication with patients facing economic hardship is a critical skill for any pharmacist dedicated to achieving health equity. This goes beyond standard counseling and involves empathy, screening for socioeconomic barriers, and collaborative problem-solving—all core components of understanding Social Determinants of Health as taught in the Patient Care 5 curriculum. This quiz will test your knowledge on the communication strategies and resource navigation skills needed to provide compassionate and effective care to indigent patients and those facing financial barriers.
1. A patient mentions they sometimes skip doses of their medication to “make it last longer.” This is a significant clue for which Social Determinant of Health?
- a. Social and Community Context
- b. Health Care Access and Quality
- c. Economic Stability (specifically, cost-related non-adherence)
- d. Neighborhood and Built Environment
Answer: c. Economic Stability (specifically, cost-related non-adherence)
2. Which of the following is the most appropriate, open-ended way to screen for cost-related medication barriers?
- a. “You can afford this medication, right?”
- b. “Many people have trouble paying for their medicines. Has this ever been a problem for you?”
- c. “You should apply for insurance.”
- d. “Why didn’t you pick this up last week?”
Answer: b. “Many people have trouble paying for their medicines. Has this ever been a problem for you?”
3. The ethical principle that most directly guides a pharmacist to find lower-cost alternatives for an indigent patient is:
- a. Autonomy
- b. Beneficence (acting in the patient’s best interest)
- c. Justice
- d. Both b and c
Answer: d. Both b and c
4. Demonstrating empathy and cultural competency is a key professional attribute for building a therapeutic relationship.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
5. A patient cannot afford their brand-name medication. What is the most appropriate first step for the pharmacist to suggest?
- a. Tell the patient to stop taking the medication.
- b. Suggest a less effective herbal supplement.
- c. Check if a therapeutically equivalent, lower-cost generic medication is available.
- d. Offer to pay for the medication yourself.
Answer: c. Check if a therapeutically equivalent, lower-cost generic medication is available.
6. The “Social Determinants of Health” lecture is a “Transcending Concept” in which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
- c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- d. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
7. “Medication synchronization” is a service that helps indigent patients by:
- a. Making their medications more potent.
- b. Aligning all of a patient’s refills to be due on the same day, reducing the number of trips to the pharmacy.
- c. Providing free medication.
- d. Lowering the patient’s copays.
Answer: b. Aligning all of a patient’s refills to be due on the same day, reducing the number of trips to the pharmacy.
8. When counseling a patient with low income and potentially low health literacy, the pharmacist should prioritize:
- a. Using complex medical terminology to show expertise.
- b. Providing as much written information as possible.
- c. Using plain language and the teach-back method.
- d. Rushing through the counseling session.
Answer: c. Using plain language and the teach-back method.
9. What is a Patient Assistance Program (PAP)?
- a. A program run by the pharmacy to provide discounts.
- b. A program sponsored by pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide free or low-cost medications to qualifying individuals.
- c. A government health insurance program.
- d. A type of clinical trial.
Answer: b. A program sponsored by pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide free or low-cost medications to qualifying individuals.
10. A pharmacist who treats every patient with respect, regardless of their socioeconomic status, is demonstrating:
- a. Clinical knowledge
- b. Professionalism
- c. Dispensing accuracy
- d. Inventory management
Answer: b. Professionalism
11. The management of diabetes, a disease heavily impacted by SDOH, is a topic within the Patient Care 5 curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
12. A patient says, “I don’t have a car and the bus is unreliable, so it’s hard for me to get here to pick up my medicine.” This is what type of barrier?
- a. A cost barrier
- b. A health literacy barrier
- c. A transportation barrier
- d. A language barrier
Answer: c. A transportation barrier
13. Recognizing the pharmacist’s role in promoting public health is a key objective of the community pharmacy IPPE.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
14. What is the best response to a patient who is frustrated about the cost of their medication?
- a. “It’s not my fault, I don’t set the prices.”
- b. “I understand this is frustrating. Let’s see if there are any options we can look at to help make this more affordable.”
- c. “You should get better insurance.”
- d. “Everyone has to pay for their medications.”
Answer: b. “I understand this is frustrating. Let’s see if there are any options we can look at to help make this more affordable.”
15. A shame-free environment, which is crucial when discussing sensitive topics like cost, is created by:
- a. A pharmacist who appears rushed and judgmental.
- b. A private or semi-private counseling area.
- c. A pharmacist who uses empathetic and normalizing language.
- d. Both b and c.
Answer: d. Both b and c.
16. A patient asks if they can cut their extended-release tablet in half to make it last longer. The pharmacist should advise:
- a. That this is a safe and effective way to save money.
- b. Against this, explaining that altering the tablet can destroy the release mechanism and be dangerous.
- c. To crush the tablet instead.
- d. That they should only take it every other day.
Answer: b. Against this, explaining that altering the tablet can destroy the release mechanism and be dangerous.
17. The lecture “Health Disparities” is part of the diabetes module in the Patient Care 5 curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
18. Which of the following is a potential solution for a patient with a transportation barrier?
- a. Suggesting a 90-day supply of medication.
- b. Offering delivery services if the pharmacy has them.
- c. Suggesting mail-order pharmacy options.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
19. When communicating with an indigent patient, it is important to:
- a. Assume they have low health literacy.
- b. Treat them with the same dignity and respect as any other patient.
- c. Only recommend brand-name drugs.
- d. Avoid discussing cost unless they bring it up.
Answer: b. Treat them with the same dignity and respect as any other patient.
20. An active learning session on SDOH is part of the Patient Care 5 course.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
21. A patient without stable housing may have difficulty with which type of medication?
- a. An oral tablet that is stable at room temperature.
- b. A medication that requires refrigeration, like insulin.
- c. A once-daily medication.
- d. A generic medication.
Answer: b. A medication that requires refrigeration, like insulin.
22. “Food insecurity” can directly impact a patient with diabetes by:
- a. Making it difficult to adhere to a consistent, healthy diet for glycemic control.
- b. Forcing a choice between paying for food or paying for medications.
- c. Leading to consumption of cheaper, calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
23. Demonstrating empathy is a key objective of the Personal and Professional Development course series.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
24. An active learning session on SDOH is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
25. A pharmacist says, “This new medication can be expensive. Before we send it to the doctor, would you like me to check if your insurance covers it or if there are lower-cost options?” This is an example of:
- a. Proactive and patient-centered communication.
- b. Wasting the patient’s time.
- c. A HIPAA violation.
- d. Overstepping professional boundaries.
Answer: a. Proactive and patient-centered communication.
26. A pharmacist’s role in addressing health disparities involves:
- a. Recognizing that they exist.
- b. Providing culturally competent care.
- c. Advocating for patients who face systemic barriers.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
27. Using open-ended questions like “How has managing your medications been going for you?” is a good way to:
- a. Get a simple “yes” or “no” answer.
- b. Invite the patient to share potential challenges or barriers.
- c. End the conversation quickly.
- d. Test the patient’s memory.
Answer: b. Invite the patient to share potential challenges or barriers.
28. An active learning session on diabetes is part of which course module?
- a. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
- b. Module 3: Women’s Health
- c. Module 4: Medication Safety
- d. Module 8: Men’s Health
Answer: a. Module 1: Diabetes Mellitus
29. The ultimate goal of effective communication with an indigent patient is to:
- a. Make them feel guilty about their financial situation.
- b. Find a shared solution that allows them to access and adhere to a safe and effective therapy.
- c. Refer them to a different pharmacy.
- d. Complete the transaction as quickly as possible.
Answer: b. Find a shared solution that allows them to access and adhere to a safe and effective therapy.
30. The “Social Determinants of Health: Diabetes Mellitus” is a lecture within the Patient Care 5 curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
31. When a patient says “I’m fine” in a flat tone while looking away, the pharmacist should:
- a. Immediately move on to the next topic.
- b. Recognize this non-verbal cue and gently probe further, e.g., “Sometimes ‘fine’ means things aren’t so great. Is everything okay?”
- c. Document that the patient is fine.
- d. Assume the patient does not want to talk.
Answer: b. Recognize this non-verbal cue and gently probe further, e.g., “Sometimes ‘fine’ means things aren’t so great. Is everything okay?”
32. A pharmacist providing a list of local food banks to a patient who expresses food insecurity is:
- a. Exceeding their scope of practice.
- b. Acting as a valuable public health resource.
- c. Violating patient privacy.
- d. Wasting pharmacy resources.
Answer: b. Acting as a valuable public health resource.
33. Health equity, the goal of addressing SDOH, means:
- a. Everyone gets the exact same care.
- b. Everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential.
- c. Only the wealthy receive good care.
- d. Health outcomes are identical for every person.
Answer: b. Everyone has a fair opportunity to attain their full health potential.
34. A patient is more likely to be honest about cost-related non-adherence if the pharmacist:
- a. Asks in a loud, accusatory tone.
- b. Uses normalizing and non-judgmental language.
- c. Asks in front of other customers.
- d. Avoids eye contact.
Answer: b. Uses normalizing and non-judgmental language.
35. A pharmacist’s ability to communicate effectively is just as important as their clinical knowledge.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
36. For a patient with a high-deductible health plan, a potential cost-saving strategy a pharmacist could suggest is:
- a. Using a drug discount card or checking prices at different pharmacies.
- b. Seeing if the manufacturer has a copay card.
- c. Discussing lower-cost alternatives with their prescriber.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
37. Which of the following is NOT a good communication practice?
- a. Using active listening.
- b. Interrupting the patient frequently to correct them.
- c. Showing empathy.
- d. Using plain language.
Answer: b. Interrupting the patient frequently to correct them.
38. The “Health Disparities” lecture is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
39. Building rapport is the foundation for effective communication and problem-solving with any patient.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
40. An active learning session covering SDOH is part of which course?
- a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
41. The first step in helping an indigent patient is:
- a. Assuming you know what they need.
- b. Listening to understand their specific needs and priorities.
- c. Giving them a generic pamphlet.
- d. Referring them elsewhere.
Answer: b. Listening to understand their specific needs and priorities.
42. A patient may be hesitant to admit they cannot afford a medication due to:
- a. Fear of judgment or embarrassment.
- b. Not wanting to disappoint their provider.
- c. A feeling of shame.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
43. A patient-centered approach means:
- a. The pharmacist makes all the decisions.
- b. The patient’s values, preferences, and circumstances are central to the care plan.
- c. The plan is focused on the disease, not the patient.
- d. The plan is focused on the medication, not the patient.
Answer: b. The patient’s values, preferences, and circumstances are central to the care plan.
44. Identifying and resolving drug-related problems, such as cost-related non-adherence, is a key objective for pharmacy students.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
45. Which of the following is an example of a systems-level approach to helping indigent patients?
- a. A pharmacist helping one patient apply for a PAP.
- b. A health system implementing an automatic screening process for SDOH barriers for all patients.
- c. A patient using a coupon for one prescription.
- d. A doctor giving out a few samples.
Answer: b. A health system implementing an automatic screening process for SDOH barriers for all patients.
46. Effective communication with indigent patients can directly lead to:
- a. Increased medication adherence.
- b. Improved health outcomes.
- c. A stronger pharmacist-patient relationship.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
47. Cultural competency is important because a patient’s background can influence:
- a. Their beliefs about health and medicine.
- b. Their communication style.
- c. Their trust in the healthcare system.
- d. All of the above.
Answer: d. All of the above.
48. An active learning session on communication is part of which course?
- a. PHA5022C Personal and Professional Development 2
- b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
- c. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
- d. PHA5787C Patient Care 5
Answer: a. PHA5022C Personal and Professional Development 2
49. The overall management of a patient’s health must consider:
- a. Only their pathophysiology and pharmacology.
- b. Only their social and economic circumstances.
- c. Both their clinical needs and their social determinants of health.
- d. Only their medication list.
Answer: c. Both their clinical needs and their social determinants of health.
50. The ultimate goal of learning to communicate effectively with indigent patients is to:
- a. Promote health equity by helping to overcome barriers to care.
- b. Meet a curriculum requirement.
- c. Avoid difficult conversations.
- d. Fulfill a legal obligation only.
Answer: a. Promote health equity by helping to overcome barriers to care.