Clinical roles in assisting behavioural change: the 5As

The 5As describe the five key roles a pharmacist can perform to help patients change:

  • ASK patients to see if they have a health condition or behaviour that needs to change
  • ASSESS the level of risk associated with the health condition or behaviour and its relevance to the individual's readiness to change
  • ADVISE and ASSIST
    • ADVISE: patients by providing brief information, written where possible
    • ASSIST: patients by providing self-management support to help patients better manage the condition themselves, or providing/recommending pharmacotherapies where possible (eg nicotine replacement therapy to reduce cravings
  • ARRANGE follow-up (e.g. to monitor blood pressure or patient adherence to recommendations) and referral to GPs, specialist services, social support groups (e.g. exercise groups), phone information/counselling services (e.g. QUIT for smoking cessation).

Use the links above to explore in detail how Laura used each of the 5As as a framework for facilitating improved patient management of conditions.

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