Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications from Coursera

Inappropriate use of medicines harms patients' health and increases healthcare costs. When healthcare professionals and patients engage together, healthcare can be based on the patient perspective, so the use of medicines is better tailored to each patient's needs and preferences. The result is a better relationship between patients and healthcare professionals, more appropriate medicines use, improved patient outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs.

In this course you will learn about the patient perspective on medicines use, and how to explore and apply it in healthcare and health policy. The course is related to the course Patient Perspectives on Medications: Qualitative Interviews, but each course can be taken separately.

The course, Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications, is created by Anna Birna Almarsdóttir, Lotte S. Nørgaard, Sofia K. Sporrong, Lourdes Cantarero-Arevalo, Anne Gerd Granas, Johanne M. Hansen, Martin C. Henman, Solveig N. Jacobsen, Susanne Kaae, Katja Taxis and Ramune Jacobsen.

What's inside

Syllabus

Why is the patient perspective important?

This module will give an overview of society-wide challenges related to medicines use. You will learn why it is important to understand the patient perspective on medicines use, and be introduced to issues that will be discussed during the course, such as patients’ perspectives versus professionals’ perspectives on medicines use.

Patient stories

In this module you will learn about patients’ views on medicines use and how medicines are incorporated in their daily lives. You will be introduced to a model summarizing different aspects of the patient perspective on medicines use. You will also meet patients who will tell about their personal experiences with medicines use.

The professional perspective

In this module you will learn that the patient's rationality regarding medicines use is not always in sync with the professionals’ rationality. You will be introduced to various ways of how healthcare professionals evaluate the patient perspective on medicines use. This relates to satisfaction, patients’ attitudes towards medicines, as well as knowledge of, and behavior related to medicines. Lastly, the module will enable you to reflect upon your own assumptions about patients’ medicine use.

How to apply and explore the patient perspective

In this module, you will be presented with examples of how the patient perspective has been implemented into health policy and healthcare practice. You will get acquainted with different aspects of the qualitative interview – a method you can use to explore the patient perspective in depth. Lastly, you will reflect on how to use this knowledge in your professional setting. Please note! This week you must hand in a graded assignment and review three assignments from fellow students.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Emphasizes the importance of the patient perspective in healthcare, aligning with current industry practices

Taught by recognized experts in patient perspectives on medications, Sofia Kälvemark Sporrong, Lotte Stig Norgaard, and Anna Birna Almarsdottir

Provides practical examples and case studies of implementing the patient perspective in healthcare and health policy

Covers a comprehensive range of topics, from the patient perspective on medicines use to exploring and applying it in healthcare

May require a strong foundation in healthcare or patient-centered care principles to fully grasp the concepts

Reviews summary

Medication adherence by patients

Learners say this is a largely positive course that provides good information about understanding patient perspectives on medications. Students describe the course content as great and very informative. Overall, the course is well received by learners.

Balanced amount of coursework that is helpful in learning.

"Good course, really good teachers and the way that the course is planned is perfect"

"Also, the way that the quizes or assignments are done is very helpful to the learning."

"The demands of the course were just about right."

Provides interesting examples of patient perspectives.

"understanding how patients actually feel about medications"

"it was great"

"Very interesting course."

Examines the importance of medication adherence.

"Very informative. "

"very important topic"

"The presenter, videos and lectures material are awesome! Very good explaining the importance of the adherence to a medication and the consequences and impact on the Health Services System."

Must wait for peer evaluation to complete the course.

"Why do I have to wait for peer evaluation to complete the course?"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications with these activities:

Find a mentor in the field of patient care

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Find a mentor to support and guide your learning in medicine and patient care.

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Identify potential mentors
Reach out to potential mentors
Build a relationship with your mentor

Review the basics of patient care

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Review the basics of patient care to ensure a strong foundation for understanding the patient perspective on medicines use.

Browse courses on Patient Care

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Read articles or books on patient care
Watch videos or documentaries on patient care
Take a practice quiz on patient care

Practice interviewing patients

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Practice interviewing patients to develop skills in exploring the patient perspective on medicines use.

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Find a partner to practice with
Develop a list of interview questions
Practice interviewing each other
Provide feedback to each other

Six other activities

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Create a patient interview guide

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Develop a structured approach to gathering patient insights by creating a patient interview guide.

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Review the course materials on patient perspectives on medications and qualitative interviews.
Identify the specific research questions you want to explore.
Draft a list of open-ended questions that will encourage patients to share their experiences and perspectives.
Pilot test the interview guide with a small group of patients to refine the questions and ensure clarity.

Compile a collection of resources on the patient perspective on medicines use

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Compile a collection of resources to enhance your understanding of the patient perspective on medicines use.

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Search for resources
Organize the resources
Annotate the resources

Write a blog post about the patient perspective on medicines use

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Write a blog post to synthesize and share your understanding of the patient perspective on medicines use.

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Research the topic
Develop an outline
Write the blog post
Edit and proofread the blog post
Publish the blog post

Contribute to an open-source project related to patient care

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Contribute to an open-source project to gain practical experience and contribute to the field of medicine and patient care.

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Find a project to contribute to
Learn about the project
Make a contribution
Review your contribution
Submit your contribution

Develop a patient education plan

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Develop a patient education plan to apply your understanding of the patient perspective to improving patient outcomes.

Browse courses on Patient Education

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Identify the target audience
Determine the learning objectives
Develop the content
Design the materials
Evaluate the plan

Start a project to develop a new patient education tool

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Start a project to apply your understanding of the patient perspective to developing a new tool to improve patient outcomes.

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Identify a need
Develop a plan
Build the tool
Test the tool
Launch the tool

Career center

Learners who complete Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Patient Advocate

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications aligns directly with the responsibilities of a Patient Advocate. This course focuses on exploring and applying the patient perspective to healthcare practice. Patient Advocates can use this knowledge to effectively represent and support patients, ensuring their perspectives are considered in medical decision-making and that their needs are met throughout the healthcare journey.

See salaries and explore the career path for Patient Advocate

Medical Anthropologist

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications aligns with Medical Anthropology. The course examines the patient's perspective on medication use, an essential area within Medical Anthropology. By understanding the cultural, social, and behavioral factors influencing medication use, Medical Anthropologists can better analyze and address health disparities, cultural beliefs, and practices surrounding medicines in diverse patient populations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Anthropologist

Health Policy Analyst

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications is highly relevant to Health Policy Analysts. This course provides a deep dive into healthcare policy challenges related to the patient perspective on medication use. It explores ways to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by understanding patient perspectives. By gaining the knowledge and skills in this course, Health Policy Analysts can make more informed decisions and recommendations in shaping healthcare policies.

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Health Educator

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications directly relates to the responsibilities of Health Educators. The course content focuses on exploring how to apply the patient perspective to healthcare practice. Graduates of this course will be better equipped to develop educational materials and interventions that consider the patient perspective and promote more effective medicine use among individuals and communities.

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Pharmacist

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications can benefit Pharmacists seeking to enhance their patient-centered care approach. This course highlights the importance of understanding patient perspectives on medication use and provides strategies for incorporating this knowledge into practice. Pharmacists who take this course can strengthen their ability to provide personalized medication counseling, improve medication adherence, and optimize drug therapy for better patient outcomes.

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Physician Assistant

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications can be valuable for Physician Assistants. This course emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care and provides approaches to exploring and applying the patient perspective in healthcare settings. Physician Assistants can leverage these insights to enhance patient communication, facilitate shared decision-making, and deliver more personalized and effective care for their patients.

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Nurse Practitioner

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications is a valuable resource for Nurse Practitioners. The course emphasizes the patient perspective and its impact on medication use. By gaining insights into patient perspectives, Nurse Practitioners can provide more tailored care, improve medication adherence, and strengthen the patient-provider relationship, leading to better health outcomes.

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Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators who wish to enhance their understanding of how to better serve patient needs may benefit from taking Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications. This course emphasizes the significance of the patient perspective and its impact on medication use. Understanding these perspectives can allow Healthcare Administrators to make informed decisions and create policies that prioritize individualized patient care while optimizing the use of medications.

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Sociologist

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications may be useful for Sociologists. This course explores the social and cultural factors that influence medication use. Sociologists can use this knowledge to conduct research and develop theories on the social determinants of health, access to healthcare, and medication use patterns in different populations.

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Medical Case Manager

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications can be useful for Medical Case Managers. This course emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care and provides practical approaches to exploring and applying the patient perspective in healthcare settings. These insights can empower Medical Case Managers to advocate for patients' needs, ensure their perspectives are considered in treatment plans, and improve overall patient outcomes.

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Research Scientist

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications may be useful for Research Scientists. The course explores the patient perspective on medication use, an essential consideration in medical research. By understanding how patients' experiences, beliefs, and behaviors influence medication adherence and effectiveness, Research Scientists can design and conduct more patient-centered studies that yield more accurate and meaningful results.

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Public Health Nurse

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications may be useful for Public Health Nurses. This course delves into the societal challenges related to medication use and explores how understanding patient perspectives can improve healthcare outcomes. Public Health Nurses can apply this knowledge to develop and implement community-based interventions aimed at optimizing medication use, promoting medication safety, and addressing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes.

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Social Worker

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications may be useful for Social Workers. This course explores the social and psychological factors that influence medication use. Social Workers can utilize this knowledge to provide psychosocial support to patients, address barriers to medication adherence, and advocate for policies that promote equitable access to healthcare and medication use.

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Family Medicine Physician

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications may be useful for Family Medicine Physicians. This course delves into how different approaches to patient-centered care can lead to improved care outcomes. As Family Medicine Physicians work with patients on a personal level to manage chronic conditions and provide preventive care, gaining insights into each patient's unique perspective may lead to a better patient-physician relationship and shared decision-making in devising treatment plans.

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Medical Writer

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications can be useful for Medical Writers. This course explores patient perspectives on medication use and provides insights into how to incorporate these perspectives into patient-centered healthcare content. Medical Writers can use these skills to create accessible and reliable health information and educational materials that effectively meet the needs and preferences of patients.

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