ISBN : 978-81-685745-5-7
Manual and Workbook of Healthcare Psychology and Communication Skills has been developed in accordance with the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) B.Pharmacy Curriculum 2026 to provide pharmacy students with a competency-based practical learning resource that integrates healthcare psychology with professional communication skills. The manual is designed to strengthen students' ability to communicate effectively, demonstrate empathy, understand patient behaviour, and deliver patient-centred pharmaceutical care in diverse healthcare settings. The book follows an experiential learning methodology, whereby the students will be able to apply theoretical knowledge into clinical practice through practical exercises, role playing, case-based discussion, reflective learning, and skill assessment. The experiments are methodically presented with clearly stated aims, objectives, learning outcomes, theoretical framework, principles, procedure, observation checklists, assessment rubric, documentation, viva voce questions, and relevant references from standard textbooks and latest healthcare guidelines. The textbook contains all the aspects of healthcare psychology and communication such as therapeutic communication, active listening, empathy, emotional intelligence, motivational interviewing, patient counseling, delivering bad news through SPIKES protocol, crisis communication, assessment of mental health in primary care, communication while medication counseling, prevention of healthcare error due to poor communication through SBAR and ISBAR model, team work, professional behavior, ethical and patient safety. Emphasis is especially given to competency based assessment by using structured observation sheets, communication portfolios, self-assessment, peer assessment, feedback from the faculty, reflection exercise, and performance based rubrics, which facilitate continuous learning and assessment of the competencies professionally. The manual also acts as an important guide for the faculty members, by providing standard practical protocols and outcomes based assessment techniques for implementing the PCI curriculum effectively. The combination of psychology, communication, ethics, professionalism, and pharmaceutical care in one practical guidebook makes future pharmacists ready to be competent and compassionate healthcare providers, who can work effectively as members of multidisciplinary team for delivering healthcare services safely and ethically to the patients.