Patient medication counselling MCQs With Answer

Patient Medication Counselling MCQs With Answer

This question bank is tailored for M. Pharm students preparing for advanced clinical pharmacy practice. It emphasizes practical, evidence-based aspects of patient medication counselling: communication skills, assessment of adherence, risk mitigation, individualized counseling for special populations (geriatrics, pediatrics, pregnancy), and legal/ethical responsibilities. Each multiple-choice question probes clinical reasoning and application — for example, using teach-back, motivational interviewing, documenting encounters, and managing high-risk drugs like anticoagulants and opioids. Answers are provided to aid rapid self-assessment. Use these items to identify knowledge gaps, refine counselling strategies, and prepare for clinical examinations and real-world patient interactions.

Q1. Which of the following is the single most reliable method to verify patient understanding during a medication counselling session?

• Asking “Do you understand?” at the end
• Providing written material only
• Using the teach-back method to have the patient explain instructions in their own words
• Observing the patient’s nonverbal cues

Correct Answer: Using the teach-back method to have the patient explain instructions in their own words

Q2. In motivational interviewing, which set best describes the OARS core skills that pharmacists should use during counselling?

• Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing
• Objective assessment, Advice, Reassurance, Strategy
• Observe, Ask, Respond, Solve
• Offer alternatives, Assess, Recommend, Schedule

Correct Answer: Open questions, Affirmations, Reflective listening, Summarizing

Q3. When counseling a patient starting warfarin, which of the following points is most critical to include?

• Vitamin C intake has no effect on INR
• INR monitoring schedule and importance of reporting signs of bleeding
• It is safe to start herbal supplements immediately
• Cranberry juice consistently reduces anticoagulant effect

Correct Answer: INR monitoring schedule and importance of reporting signs of bleeding

Q4. For pediatric dosing counselling, what information is essential to provide to caregivers to minimize dosing errors?

• Using household teaspoons is acceptable for small volumes
• Dose should be measured using an appropriate metric device (oral syringe, calibrated dropper) and weight-based dose explained
• Doubling the dose if symptoms persist after 2 hours
• Store all medicines together in a single container for convenience

Correct Answer: Dose should be measured using an appropriate metric device (oral syringe, calibrated dropper) and weight-based dose explained

Q5. Which adherence measurement is a validated self-report tool commonly used in clinical research and practice?

• Medication Possession Ratio (MPR)
• Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS)
• Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM)
• Pharmacy refill date alone

Correct Answer: Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS)

Q6. When documenting a medication counselling encounter in the patient record, which of the following is the most appropriate element to include?

• Only the drug name and next refill date
• Assessment of patient’s understanding, topics covered, agreed plan, and follow-up arrangements
• Personal opinions about the prescriber’s choice
• Irrelevant social details about the patient

Correct Answer: Assessment of patient’s understanding, topics covered, agreed plan, and follow-up arrangements

Q7. Which technique is most effective to reduce information overload when counselling patients with multiple chronic medications?

• Provide the entire medication list and instructions in one 30-minute session
• Prioritize key actions, use plain language, and schedule follow-up sessions
• Rely solely on written leaflets without verbal reinforcement
• Ask the patient to read pharmaceutical monographs

Correct Answer: Prioritize key actions, use plain language, and schedule follow-up sessions

Q8. For counseling about opioid analgesics, which point is essential to include to promote safe use?

• Combining opioids with benzodiazepines is safe if doses are low
• Store opioids securely, avoid alcohol or sedatives, and be aware of signs of overdose
• It is acceptable to stop opioids abruptly without tapering
• Opioids do not affect driving or operating machinery

Correct Answer: Store opioids securely, avoid alcohol or sedatives, and be aware of signs of overdose

Q9. Which counseling approach is most appropriate for a patient with low health literacy?

• Use complex medical terminology to be precise
• Use plain language, pictograms, teach-back, and short written instructions
• Provide lengthy printed booklets only
• Ask family members to handle all explanations without patient involvement

Correct Answer: Use plain language, pictograms, teach-back, and short written instructions

Q10. During transitions of care, what is the primary role of medication reconciliation in counselling?

• To confirm the hospital pharmacy stock levels
• To identify and rectify unintended discrepancies between pre-admission and discharge medications
• To change all medications to brand names
• To update prescriber contact lists only

Correct Answer: To identify and rectify unintended discrepancies between pre-admission and discharge medications

Q11. Which legal/ethical principle requires pharmacists to maintain confidentiality of patient medication information, except in specified circumstances?

• Autonomy
• Confidentiality
• Beneficence
• Nonmaleficence

Correct Answer: Confidentiality

Q12. When counseling a pregnant patient about medication use, which statement reflects best practice?

• Discontinue all medications immediately regardless of condition
• Assess risk-benefit, consult guidelines, and discuss alternatives and monitoring with the patient
• Assume herbal products are safe and require no discussion
• Only advise postpartum medication changes

Correct Answer: Assess risk-benefit, consult guidelines, and discuss alternatives and monitoring with the patient

Q13. Which element is NOT part of a structured counselling session focused on adherence improvement?

• Identifying barriers to adherence
• Collaborative goal setting and action planning
• Prescribing a new medication without discussing patient concerns
• Follow-up and reinforcement

Correct Answer: Prescribing a new medication without discussing patient concerns

Q14. How should a pharmacist counsel a patient about potential drug interactions with over-the-counter (OTC) products?

• Tell the patient that OTCs are always harmless
• Review current prescriptions, inquire about herbal and OTC use, and explain clinically relevant interactions
• Discourage all OTC use regardless of indication
• Recommend random internet sources for interaction checks

Correct Answer: Review current prescriptions, inquire about herbal and OTC use, and explain clinically relevant interactions

Q15. In the context of risk communication during counselling, which approach best helps patients make informed decisions?

• Use relative risks only to emphasize drug benefits
• Present absolute risks and benefits, use natural frequencies, and explain uncertainty clearly
• Avoid discussing risks to prevent anxiety
• Provide statistics without context or examples

Correct Answer: Present absolute risks and benefits, use natural frequencies, and explain uncertainty clearly

Q16. Which counseling point is crucial when a patient is prescribed a bisphosphonate for osteoporosis?

• Take the medication with a full meal to enhance absorption
• Take the medication on an empty stomach with a full glass of water, remain upright for 30–60 minutes, and avoid other medications/foods during that period
• Crush the tablet and mix with dairy products
• It is safe to lie down immediately after taking it

Correct Answer: Take the medication on an empty stomach with a full glass of water, remain upright for 30–60 minutes, and avoid other medications/foods during that period

Q17. Which documentation format is often used by pharmacists to record counselling encounters and clinical interventions?

• SOAP note (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan)
• Freehand narrative without structure
• Prescriber-only memo
• Billing code list only

Correct Answer: SOAP note (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan)

Q18. For geriatric patients, which counseling strategy reduces the risk of adverse drug events related to polypharmacy?

• Encourage use of multiple pharmacies to speed refills
• Perform regular medication reviews, prioritize deprescribing when appropriate, and simplify regimens
• Increase the number of medications to address each symptom separately
• Avoid discussing adverse effects to reduce concern

Correct Answer: Perform regular medication reviews, prioritize deprescribing when appropriate, and simplify regimens

Q19. When providing telephone counselling, which practice is essential for patient safety and documentation?

• Rely on memory and do not document brief calls
• Verify patient identity, summarize key points aloud, and document the encounter in the record
• Give dose adjustments without checking the chart
• Offer definitive diagnostic advice without referral

Correct Answer: Verify patient identity, summarize key points aloud, and document the encounter in the record

Q20. Which counseling aid has evidence to improve adherence and is especially useful for visually impaired or low-literacy patients?

• Complex printed drug monographs only
• Pictograms, color-coding, and simplified labels combined with verbal counselling
• Medical journal articles
• Only numerical dosing schedules without graphics

Correct Answer: Pictograms, color-coding, and simplified labels combined with verbal counselling

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