Module 2: Basic Pharmacology of Controlled Drugs and Substances

Lesson 5

Patient teaching

Patient teaching is a central and well-documented role for nurses in any setting. The complexity of prescribing controlled drugs and substances and supporting patient self-management of their use requires nurses to have expert counselling and patient teaching skills.  Patient education toolkits, patient safety pamphlets, patient information folders, and a collation of online teaching materials are strategies that can increase your confidence in patient teaching.

Read the following article from Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 54. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment.
Answer the following questions:

1. What approaches should you consider for your patient education toolkit?
2. What is health literacy?
3. What content should be included in patient education in the use of controlled drugs and substances?

Frequently, the goal of counselling is behavioural change.  Motivational interviewing is a commonly used approach by clinicians when counseling patients about the use of controlled drugs and substances.  Motivational interviewing is defined as a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.