A pharmacist’s clinical knowledge is most impactful when it is communicated effectively to the healthcare team. The ability to present a clear, concise, and evidence-based oral or written plan is a “transcending concept” in modern pharmacy practice, a skill honed throughout the PharmD curriculum in courses like Patient Care 4 and the Professional Skills Labs. This core competency involves more than just stating a recommendation; it requires justifying that recommendation with high-quality evidence from guidelines and primary literature, and collaborating respectfully with other professionals. This quiz will test your knowledge on the essential elements of presenting an evidence-based plan to optimize interprofessional communication and patient care.
1. When presenting a therapeutic plan to a physician, what is the most effective way to justify your recommendation?
- a. State that it is your personal preference.
- b. Cite a recent, high-quality clinical practice guideline.
- c. Mention that the recommended drug is cheaper.
- d. Say that you learned it in a lecture.
Answer: b. Cite a recent, high-quality clinical practice guideline.
2. Which communication format is best suited for conveying an urgent recommendation over the phone to a provider?
- a. A full SOAP note
- b. SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
- c. A detailed email
- d. A formal case presentation
Answer: b. SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
3. The “Plan” portion of a presentation or note should always include the drug, dose, route, frequency, and what other crucial component?
- a. The manufacturer of the drug.
- b. The specific monitoring parameters for safety and efficacy.
- c. The color of the tablet.
- d. The wholesale acquisition cost.
Answer: b. The specific monitoring parameters for safety and efficacy.
4. When presenting a plan based on a landmark clinical trial, it is most helpful to state:
- a. The full list of authors on the paper.
- b. The journal’s impact factor.
- c. The trial’s acronym and its main conclusion as it applies to your patient.
- d. The statistical methods used in the trial.
Answer: c. The trial’s acronym and its main conclusion as it applies to your patient.
5. “Defending a therapeutic plan” verbally using guidelines and primary literature is a key objective for student pharmacists.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
6. The “Transcending Concept – Interprofessional Communication: Present Oral/Written /Plan Using Evidence” is a specific learning module in which course?
- a. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
- b. PHA5104 Sterile Compounding
- c. PHA5703 Pharmacy Law and Ethics
- d. PHA5878C Patient Care 3
Answer: a. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
7. When communicating with a nurse about a new medication order, what information is most critical to emphasize?
- a. The detailed medicinal chemistry of the drug.
- b. The cost-effectiveness analysis from a recent study.
- c. Key administration details, immediate monitoring parameters, and common, serious side effects.
- d. The history of the drug’s development.
Answer: c. Key administration details, immediate monitoring parameters, and common, serious side effects.
8. An effective written plan in a patient’s EHR should be:
- a. As long as possible to show effort.
- b. Written in prose, like a story.
- c. Concise, clear, and structured (e.g., using a numbered problem list).
- d. Filled with personal opinions and speculation.
Answer: c. Concise, clear, and structured (e.g., using a numbered problem list).
9. If another healthcare professional disagrees with your evidence-based recommendation, the most professional response is to:
- a. Insist they are wrong and that they must follow your plan.
- b. Listen to their perspective, understand their reasoning, and have a collaborative discussion.
- c. Immediately abandon your recommendation.
- d. Complain to your supervisor about the other professional.
Answer: b. Listen to their perspective, understand their reasoning, and have a collaborative discussion.
10. What does it mean to “close the loop” after making a verbal recommendation?
- a. To hang up the phone immediately.
- b. To confirm that the listener understood the recommendation and what the next action step will be.
- c. To send a follow-up email with more information.
- d. To ask for a second opinion.
Answer: b. To confirm that the listener understood the recommendation and what the next action step will be.
11. The ability to evaluate relevant primary literature to answer drug information questions is a key skill for presenting an evidence-based plan.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
12. When presenting your plan, which statement is most effective?
- a. “We should probably start some sort of blood pressure pill.”
- b. “Per the JNC-8 guidelines, I recommend initiating lisinopril 10 mg daily for this patient’s hypertension.”
- c. “The patient needs lisinopril.”
- d. “I think lisinopril is a good drug.”
Answer: b. “Per the JNC-8 guidelines, I recommend initiating lisinopril 10 mg daily for this patient’s hypertension.”
13. The “A” in a SOAP note, where you justify your plan, stands for:
- a. Action
- b. Administration
- c. Assessment
- d. Alternatives
Answer: c. Assessment
14. A key difference between an oral presentation and a written note is that an oral presentation can be:
- a. More detailed and lengthy.
- b. Less organized.
- c. More interactive and tailored to the audience in real-time.
- d. Less evidence-based.
Answer: c. More interactive and tailored to the audience in real-time.
15. Contributing patient-specific medication expertise as part of an interprofessional team is a defined Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
16. When presenting a plan, it is important to not only state the efficacy monitoring parameters but also the:
- a. Cost of the monitoring test.
- b. Safety monitoring parameters.
- c. Name of the lab technician who will run the test.
- d. Time of day the test should be done.
Answer: b. Safety monitoring parameters.
17. If no clinical practice guideline exists for a patient’s specific situation, what is the next best source of evidence to use?
- a. A general internet search.
- b. A high-quality randomized controlled trial or systematic review.
- c. The opinion of a colleague.
- d. The drug manufacturer’s website.
Answer: b. A high-quality randomized controlled trial or systematic review.
18. Being “succinct” in a presentation means being:
- a. Disorganized but brief.
- b. Brief, to the point, and clear.
- c. Vague and non-committal.
- d. Long-winded to show your knowledge.
Answer: b. Brief, to the point, and clear.
19. Why is it important to state the patient-specific goals of therapy in your plan?
- a. It provides a clear target to aim for and a metric to measure therapeutic success.
- b. It is a billing requirement.
- c. It makes the plan longer.
- d. It is not important to state goals.
Answer: a. It provides a clear target to aim for and a metric to measure therapeutic success.
20. The curriculum specifies that an evidence-based method of communication can include SBAR or SOAP.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
21. Presenting alternatives to your primary recommendation demonstrates:
- a. A lack of confidence in your first choice.
- b. That you have thought through the problem comprehensively and are prepared for collaborative discussion.
- c. That you are trying to confuse the listener.
- d. A poor understanding of the guidelines.
Answer: b. That you have thought through the problem comprehensively and are prepared for collaborative discussion.
22. An effective oral presentation begins with:
- a. The final recommendation.
- b. A one-liner that summarizes the patient and the primary issue.
- c. A list of all lab values.
- d. The patient’s social security number.
Answer: b. A one-liner that summarizes the patient and the primary issue.
23. When documenting in the EHR, your written plan should:
- a. Contradict what you recommended verbally.
- b. Be vague so that you have plausible deniability.
- c. Be clear, professional, and consistent with your verbal recommendations.
- d. Be written in all capital letters.
Answer: c. Be clear, professional, and consistent with your verbal recommendations.
24. The best way to present evidence is to:
- a. Read the entire abstract of the paper out loud.
- b. Concisely synthesize the finding and apply it directly to the patient at hand.
- c. Provide a link to the article and tell the team to read it themselves.
- d. Only present evidence that supports your initial thought.
Answer: b. Concisely synthesize the finding and apply it directly to the patient at hand.
25. A key aspect of interprofessional communication is:
- a. Assuming the pharmacist is always right.
- b. Recognizing the roles, responsibilities, and expertise of each team member.
- c. Communicating only through the EHR.
- d. Avoiding direct conversation with physicians.
Answer: b. Recognizing the roles, responsibilities, and expertise of each team member.
26. What does it mean to apply evidence to a specific patient?
- a. Taking general guideline recommendations and individualizing them based on the patient’s comorbidities, allergies, and organ function.
- b. Using the exact same dose recommended in a clinical trial for every patient.
- c. Ignoring patient-specific factors.
- d. Only using evidence from studies that exactly match your patient’s demographics.
Answer: a. Taking general guideline recommendations and individualizing them based on the patient’s comorbidities, allergies, and organ function.
27. The use of a “fishbone” diagram can be a concise way to present what type of evidence in a written plan?
- a. The patient’s family history.
- b. Key lab values.
- c. The mechanism of action of a drug.
- d. The results of a clinical trial.
Answer: b. Key lab values.
28. Using phrases like “The evidence suggests…” or “Guidelines recommend…” is a way to:
- a. Make your recommendation sound less confident.
- b. Ground your plan in objective data rather than personal opinion.
- c. Make the presentation longer.
- d. Avoid taking responsibility for the plan.
Answer: b. Ground your plan in objective data rather than personal opinion.
29. The ultimate purpose of presenting an oral or written plan is to:
- a. Demonstrate your intelligence.
- b. Fulfill a course requirement.
- c. Contribute to a collaborative decision that optimizes the patient’s care.
- d. Ensure your recommendation is followed without question.
Answer: c. Contribute to a collaborative decision that optimizes the patient’s care.
30. The skills lab curriculum includes defending a therapeutic plan verbally.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
31. A pharmacist recommends drug ‘X’ based on a guideline. A physician prefers drug ‘Y’ based on their experience. The best path forward is to:
- a. Defer to the physician immediately.
- b. Insist on drug ‘X’.
- c. Have a discussion about the evidence for both, and how it applies to the specific patient, to reach a consensus.
- d. Ask the patient to choose.
Answer: c. Have a discussion about the evidence for both, and how it applies to the specific patient, to reach a consensus.
32. When presenting your plan, non-pharmacologic recommendations should be:
- a. Omitted to save time.
- b. Included as part of a comprehensive care plan.
- c. Mentioned only if the patient asks.
- d. Presented as more important than any medication.
Answer: b. Included as part of a comprehensive care plan.
33. Answering medication-related questions using scientific literature is a defined Entrustable Professional Activity (EPA).
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
34. When presenting to a team, confidence comes from:
- a. Speaking the loudest.
- b. Being thoroughly prepared and knowing the evidence for your recommendations.
- c. Never admitting you don’t know something.
- d. Using complex, obscure vocabulary.
Answer: b. Being thoroughly prepared and knowing the evidence for your recommendations.
35. A good plan includes not just what to do now, but also:
- a. What to do if the initial plan fails or causes adverse effects.
- b. A list of all medications that should never be used.
- c. The patient’s complete dietary history.
- d. The pharmacist’s work schedule.
Answer: a. What to do if the initial plan fails or causes adverse effects.
36. A pharmacist’s written recommendation in the EHR serves as:
- a. A personal reminder note only.
- b. A legal document and a form of communication to the entire healthcare team.
- c. A suggestion that can be ignored.
- d. An order that nurses can act upon without a physician’s co-signature.
Answer: b. A legal document and a form of communication to the entire healthcare team.
37. If you present a plan to switch from an IV to a PO medication, the evidence you should cite is related to the drug’s:
- a. Cost.
- b. Oral bioavailability.
- c. Color.
- d. Potency.
Answer: b. Oral bioavailability.
38. The skill of designing an educational in-service presentation for staff is covered in the HIPPE curriculum.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
39. Active listening is a critical part of interprofessional communication because it:
- a. Allows you to formulate your next point while others are talking.
- b. Shows respect and helps you understand other perspectives, leading to better collaboration.
- c. Is a passive activity that requires no effort.
- d. Prevents you from having to speak.
Answer: b. Shows respect and helps you understand other perspectives, leading to better collaboration.
40. A pharmacist’s plan should be:
- a. Patient-specific
- b. Evidence-based
- c. Actionable
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
41. The level of evidence for a recommendation can be graded using systems like:
- a. SBAR
- b. SOAP
- c. PICO
- d. GRADE
Answer: d. GRADE
42. When a nurse asks you why a patient is on a certain medication, your response should be:
- a. “Because the doctor ordered it.”
- b. A concise, clear explanation of the drug’s indication for that specific patient.
- c. A detailed history of the drug’s development.
- d. “You can look it up yourself.”
Answer: b. A concise, clear explanation of the drug’s indication for that specific patient.
43. A well-presented plan can increase the healthcare team’s confidence in the pharmacist’s role.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
44. What is a key difference when presenting a plan to a patient versus a physician?
- a. You should use more medical jargon with the patient.
- b. The evidence should be the focus of the patient discussion.
- c. The language should be simplified, and the focus should be on what the patient needs to do and expect.
- d. There is no difference.
Answer: c. The language should be simplified, and the focus should be on what the patient needs to do and expect.
45. Before presenting a plan, a pharmacist must first complete which steps of the Pharmacists’ Patient Care Process?
- a. Implement and Follow-up
- b. Collect and Assess
- c. Plan is the first step.
- d. None of the above.
Answer: b. Collect and Assess
46. Which of the following is an example of providing evidence for a safety monitoring parameter?
- a. “We should check potassium levels.”
- b. “Since lisinopril can cause hyperkalemia, I recommend checking a basic metabolic panel in one week.”
- c. “The patient needs labs.”
- d. “Let’s monitor for side effects.”
Answer: b. “Since lisinopril can cause hyperkalemia, I recommend checking a basic metabolic panel in one week.”
47. When presenting, it is best to anticipate questions the team might have and prepare answers in advance.
- a. True
- b. False
Answer: a. True
48. An effective presentation of a plan should always be:
- a. Patient-centered.
- b. Focused on the pharmacist’s convenience.
- c. Based on the oldest available information.
- d. Delivered without making eye contact.
Answer: a. Patient-centered.
49. An active learning session on presenting plans using evidence is part of which course?
- a. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
- b. PHA5163L Professional Skills Lab 3
- c. PHA5781 Patient Care I
- d. PHA5782C Patient Care 2
Answer: a. PHA5784C Patient Care 4
50. The ultimate goal of presenting an evidence-based plan is to:
- a. Win a clinical debate.
- b. Ensure the single best course of action is chosen and implemented for the patient’s benefit.
- c. Show how much literature you have read.
- d. Make the medical record more detailed.
Answer: b. Ensure the single best course of action is chosen and implemented for the patient’s benefit.
