Communication skills development in colleges of pharmacy

Communication skill development is a critical component of pharmacy education and practice. Thus, schools and colleges of pharmacy must assess how communication skills are taught in their professional education programs. A national survey was distributed to faculty who teach communication in schools of pharmacy to study current issues regarding the instruction of these essential skills. Results indicated that many faculty were concerned about certain aspects of communication skill development. Some felt that communication training is somewhat haphazard and not well developed in some schools of pharmacy. Faculty stressed the need for communication skill development to start early in the curriculum and for skills to be integrated and reinforced throughout the curriculum. Appropriate assessment of skill development is also essential. The most innovative programs tended to use real or simulated patient learning experiences to place the skills in the context of actual pharmacy practice.