Validated Patient-Centred Communication Framework · Malaysia

From Directive Monologue to Collaborative Dialogue

CONNECT-6 is a structured, evidence-based medication counselling framework that operationalises Motivational Interviewing into a practical 6-step workflow — designed for pharmacists working in time-constrained clinical settings.

Download the Framework View the Evidence

CONNECT-6

Patient-Centred Medication Counselling Framework

9.71→17

Roleplay score improvement

p=0.002

Statistical significance

Pharmacists validated

The Gap

Why CONNECT-6 Was Needed

Despite strong international frameworks, pharmacists consistently struggle to deliver patient-centred counselling in real-world clinical settings.

Before CONNECT-6

Medication counselling was often directive and pharmacist-centric — "one-way communication" resembling parent-to-child instructions. Patients felt like passive receivers. Information was overwhelming. The gap between behavioural theory and daily practice remained wide, particularly in multilingual, time-constrained public-sector settings.

What CONNECT-6 Does

CONNECT-6 translates Motivational Interviewing and complementary behavioural models — including the Health Action Process Approach and Common Sense Model — into a structured, learnable 6-step consultation workflow. It was co-designed for Malaysian public-sector pharmacy environments and validated across hospital and health clinic settings.

The Framework

Six Steps. One Conversation.

Each step maps to established behavioural theory while remaining flexible enough to adapt to real patient needs. Steps CHECK, CLARIFY, and COACH can be revisited or reordered based on patient cues.

CONNECT

Build Trust Through Genuine Connection

Create a safe psychological environment where the patient feels heard and respected — reducing defensiveness before clinical issues are addressed.

MI: Engagement · Empathy · Partnership

CLARIFY

Uncover Barriers to Adherence

Diagnose whether non-adherence stems from beliefs, logistics, or knowledge gaps. Explore using the Belief Explorer and WHO 5 Dimensions of Adherence Barriers.

MI: Focusing · Common Sense Model · WHO 5D

COACH

Share Knowledge Collaboratively

Educate based on the patient's identified needs using the Elicit–Provide–Elicit technique. Ask permission before providing targeted information.

MI: Elicit–Provide–Elicit

CHECK

Gauge Readiness for Change

Assess the patient's motivation (importance) and self-efficacy (confidence) using the Readiness Ruler and Confidence Check tools.

MI: Evocation · HAPA Motivational Phase

CREATE

Build the Solution Together

Co-create a specific, feasible plan the patient owns — not a directive instruction. Offer options, invite input, and strengthen commitment collaboratively.

MI: Planning · HAPA Action Planning

COMMIT

Lock the Plan & Follow Up

Turn the plan into a concrete commitment. Summarise using SMART goals, elicit verbal commitment, reinforce self-efficacy, and arrange follow-up support.

MI: Reinforcement · HAPA Coping Planning

The Evidence

Validated. Significant. Scalable.

A mixed-methods pre–post interventional study was conducted with 27 pharmacists across hospital and health clinic settings in Selangor, Malaysia.

+75%

Improvement in total roleplay scores (9.71 → 17.00, p = 0.002)

13/13

Self-assessment domains showed significant improvement (p ≤ 0.003)

Both

Hospital & health clinic pharmacists showed equivalent gains (p > 0.05 between settings)

"Before, I was giving directives — everything was one-way, like parent to child. Now I offer options and we tackle the problem together."

— Participant reflection, hot wash session

"The framework guided both what to say and how to say it in a nicer way. Patients started to open up more and feel understood."

— Participant reflection, hot wash session

Ethical approval: NMRR ID-25-01263-PYJ, Ministry of Health Malaysia. Full paper link available upon publication.

Resources

Download the Tools

All CONNECT-6 materials are freely available for non-commercial use. A brief registration helps us understand how the framework is being used globally.

📋

Framework Overview (One-Pager)

A concise single-page summary of the CONNECT-6 framework, suitable for printing and display at pharmacy counters.

Request Download

🗂️

Assessment Checklist

The validated binary checklist (27 items) used to evaluate pharmacist competency in patient-centred counselling performance.

Request Download

📖

Facilitator Guide

Step-by-step guidance for trainers delivering CONNECT-6 workshops, including case studies and roleplay scenarios.

Request Download

📊

Training Slide Deck

The 60-minute structured training presentation used in the validation study, adaptable for CPD and undergraduate use.

Request Download

💬

Patient Quick Reference Card

A pocket-sized reference card for pharmacists to use during consultations — includes key questions and tools for each step.

Request Download

🎭

Roleplay Scenario Pack

Representative clinical scenarios including chronic disease management and medication adherence challenges for training use.

Request Download

🔒 All materials are licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — free for non-commercial educational and research use with proper attribution to Hassan et al. (2025). CONNECT-6 Framework. Commercial use or delivery of paid training using these materials requires written permission from the lead developer.

Training

Learn From the Source

The CONNECT-6 team delivers training directly to institutions and professional societies. Dr Fahmi Hassan leads all training engagements as the framework's principal developer and point of contact.

⚡

60-Minute Introductory Workshop

Rapid framework injection with case studies, roleplay, and Q&A. Suitable for CPD sessions, conference pre-programmes, and department team days.

🎓

Half-Day / Full-Day Workshop

Extended training with deeper roleplay practice, self-assessment surveys, and hot wash debriefing. Ideal for hospital or health clinic cohorts seeking validated competency improvement.

🏫

Train-the-Trainer Programme

Certifies internal trainers at universities and professional bodies to deliver CONNECT-6 training independently. Ensures fidelity to the framework's behavioural principles.

🎓

Undergraduate & Postgraduate Integration

Curriculum integration support for pharmacy schools — incorporating CONNECT-6 into communication competency training at both pre-registration and postgraduate levels.

Enquire About Training

Training is offered to hospitals, health clinics, pharmacy schools, and professional societies. Fees are negotiated based on institutional context and training format.

Send an Enquiry

Please include your institution, estimated cohort size, preferred format, and proposed date.

Collaboration

Opportunities to Partner

CONNECT-6 is actively seeking research and implementation partners to extend its reach and generate patient-level evidence.

🏥

Implementation in Diverse Settings

Evaluate CONNECT-6 in community, rural, or specialist pharmacy settings — including MTAC and outpatient care contexts across different healthcare systems.

📈

Longitudinal Patient Outcome Studies

Assess the framework's impact on adherence rates, clinical indicators, and patient satisfaction over extended follow-up periods.

📚

Curriculum Integration Research

Explore how CONNECT-6 can be embedded in undergraduate, postgraduate, and CPD pharmacy programmes — with outcome measurement to guide national training standards.

🌏

Cross-Cultural Validation

Extend the framework to other healthcare systems and cultural contexts, particularly in Southeast Asia and other multilingual, resource-constrained settings.

Discuss a Collaboration

What's Next

The Road Ahead

CONNECT-6 is designed to grow. The following development is actively planned.

🤖

AI-Assisted Self-Learning Platform

A dedicated digital platform is in development that will allow pharmacists to train themselves on the CONNECT-6 framework independently — using AI-powered roleplay simulation, interactive scenario practice, and competency feedback without needing a live facilitator. This will make the framework accessible to practitioners across Malaysia and beyond at scale, at low cost.

In Development

About the Developer

$Fahmi Hassan$

Fahmi Hassan, PhD

Lead Developer & Principal Contact · CONNECT-6 Research Team

Dr Fahmi Hassan is a pharmacist and clinical pharmacy researcher leading the CONNECT-6 project. The framework was developed collaboratively by a multidisciplinary research team with expertise in clinical pharmacy, patient communication, and health psychology. The team's work is grounded in the realities of Malaysian public-sector pharmacy practice.

CONNECT-6 represents the team's effort to bridge the gap between behavioural communication theory and routine pharmacy practice — validated across hospital and health clinic settings in Selangor. For training enquiries, research collaborations, and institutional partnerships, Dr Fahmi Hassan is the primary point of contact.

✉️ drfahmihassan@gmail.com 🔗 ResearchGate 📖 Google Scholar 💼 LinkedIn