English Communication Needs Of Pharmacy Students In Patient Counseling: A Mixed-Methods Study

Ade Rosa Arianti Nasution; Yoan Dasawanti

doi:10.62027/praba.v4i3.958

Authors

Ade Rosa Arianti Nasution Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Sehat Medan, Indonesia
Yoan Dasawanti Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Kesehatan Sehat Medan, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62027/praba.v4i3.958

Keywords:

English for Pharmacy, Mixed Methods, Needs Analysis, Patient Counseling, Pharmacy Students

Abstract

Effective English communication is increasingly required for pharmacists who deliver patient counseling in globalized healthcare settings, yet English for Pharmacy in Indonesia is often generic and rarely mapped to real counseling situations. This study aimed to identify and explore the English communication needs of pharmacy students in patient counseling and to determine the communication competencies that should be prioritized in pharmacy-related English instruction. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was applied at Universitas Tjut Nyak Dhien. In the quantitative phase, 120 pharmacy students completed a 20-item English Communication Needs Questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale; in the qualitative phase, 12 students participated in semi-structured interviews analyzed thematically. Descriptive statistics indicated a very high overall need (M = 4.14, SD = 0.57). The medication information domain was the highest priority (M = 4.39), led by explaining medication instructions (M = 4.48), whereas general English conversation received the lowest priority (M = 3.43). Qualitative findings converged on difficulty simplifying technical information, limited spontaneous speaking, vocabulary and pronunciation challenges, and demand for authentic counseling practice. Integrated interpretation indicates that English for Pharmacy should emphasize profession-specific counseling communication supported by role-play and simulation rather than general English.

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