Kinga Orlińska

The Importance of Interpersonal Competencies in Pharmaceutical Practice: A Review of Evidence and Implementation Perspectives

2025-12-05

Introduction. The development of the pharmaceutical care model in Poland and worldwide is associated with the expansion of the pharmacist’s role to include advisory, educational, and communicative functions. In this context, the importance of interpersonal competencies—such as empathy, active listening, patient communication, and teamwork—has been increasingly recognized, as they significantly influence the effectiveness and safety of pharmacotherapy.

Aim. The aim of this article is to review the current scientific evidence and international recommendations concerning the role of interpersonal competencies in pharmacists’ professional practice and pharmaceutical education.

Methods. A literature review was conducted using the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases, covering the years 2000–2025 and including publications in Polish and English. The review encompassed empirical studies, review papers, and reports by international organizations (WHO, FIP, NICE, OECD) addressing the development of interpersonal competencies in the context of pharmaceutical care.

Results. The analysis revealed that a high level of pharmacists’ interpersonal competencies promotes patient trust, enhances adherence to therapy, and reduces the risk of medication errors. International guidelines (WHO, FIP, NICE, OECD) clearly emphasize the need for systematic development of these skills in both undergraduate and postgraduate education. In Poland, increasing attention is being paid to this issue; however, there is still a lack of standardized curricula and systematic assessment of soft skills in professional practice.

Conclusions. Interpersonal competencies represent a key component of effective pharmaceutical care and should be considered an integral element of pharmacists’ professionalism. Their development requires the inclusion of dedicated training modules in pharmacy curricula and continuing education, in line with the recommendations of the FIP and the NIA.

Keywords: pharmacist, interpersonal competencies, soft skills, pharmaceutical care, patient communication.

© Farm Pol, 2025, 81(4): 223–232