Ontario Registered Pharmacy Technician (RphT) Practice Exam 2025 - Free RphT Practice Questions and Study Guide

A pharmacist demonstrates effective communication during patient counseling by asking open-ended questions, which encourages patients to share more information about their health, concerns, and understanding of their medications. This approach fosters a two-way conversation, allowing the pharmacist to assess the patient's knowledge and adherence to their treatment plan while also building rapport and trust.

Open-ended questions help unveil critical insights that may not be addressed if the pharmacist only poses closed questions, which typically elicit brief or one-word responses. By inviting patients to express themselves freely, pharmacists can provide tailored advice, address specific concerns, and enhance patient education, ultimately improving health outcomes.

Speaking rapidly, focusing solely on brand names, or minimizing the opportunity for patients to respond can hinder understanding, create barriers, and reduce the effectiveness of the counseling session. Hence, asking open-ended questions is a key strategy in effective patient communication.