title: Teaching self-concept and self-esteem in a clinical communications course.
abstract: Effective interpersonal communication skills are needed for pharmacists to deliver patient-centered care. To achieve this outcome with pharmacists, communication skills are emphasized in pharmacy school in required coursework, such as a clinical communication course. One important concept to include in communication coursework is content on perceptions because perceptions influence communication interactions. Specific emphasis should include a focus on self-perceptions and self-concept, because related empirical literature demonstrates that accurate academic self-concepts predict academic success. These results were extrapolated to a pharmacy clinical communications course where a lecture and laboratory series was designed to emphasize self-concept and facilitate communication skills improvement. The instructional design of this series promoted the advancement of students' communication skills by using communication inventories, self-reflection activities, peer and class discussion, and lecture content. Class discussions, self-reflections, and baseline, and follow-up counseling activities throughout the semester provided evidence of improvements.
authors.affiliation: The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Pharmacy, Oklahoma City, OK 73190, USA. melissa-medina@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Melissa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Medina
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010601:Pharmacology, Clinical / Q000193:education; D012649:Self Concept; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*