When thinking of some of the greatest minds of our age, names like Newton, Einstein, and Feynman come to mind. These names are synonymous with intelligence and groundbreaking discoveries. But what if I told you they all shared one technique that is pivotal for us as pharmacists to implement in our everyday practice?

This technique, championed by Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, is known as the Feynman Technique. Essentially, it states that you don’t truly know something well unless you can simplify it so that a five-year-old can understand it.

It was the typical day in the pharmacy when a patient came in asking about help regarding their sleep and ways to improve it.

Textbook ideas right away came to mind and I started blabbering on about sleep hygiene and using the likes of magnesium powder and even melatonin for a change.

Yet I didn’t even realise the whole time that the patient was simply staring into space and eventually left saying that they would “think about what I said”.

I knew right away that the information went into one ear and straight out the other but confused as to how I should better explain something like sleep hygiene to just a regular person

That evening, while scrolling through YouTube, I stumbled upon a video with over 13 million views of scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson explaining to a child if black holes could exist inside other black holes. The explanation was simple yet so effective that even the child could understand it.

This led me to explore how scientists explain complex phenomena to everyday people and how, as a pharmacist, I could use the same approach when explaining things like sleep hygiene.

The solution was simple but highly effective: the Feynman Technique.

The key is to break down an idea to such an extent that the language is simple enough for a child to understand. If you can’t do that, you don’t know the concept well enough and need to study it further.

I applied this technique to my understanding of sleep hygiene, breaking it down into very simple, easy-to-understand language. If anything I said didn’t make sense to a layperson, I would revisit my notes and simplify it even more.

By some miracle that same patient came to the pharmacy the next day and asked the same question because he had been thinking about what I was saying before.

This time I was ready and applied the Feynman technique.

“Simply put, your body is like a clock. It loves rhythm and will adapt to it, so make it a point to first go to sleep at a set time and then wake up at a set time each day.

“Additionally, just like we like to relax after a hard day’s work, you need to relax 30 minutes before you sleep. Otherwise, your brain still thinks it needs to be awake. So turn off your phone, brush your teeth, and make sure the room is completely dark because any light will trick your brain into thinking it’s still daytime.”

The patients eyes widened and he said that I gave him “more information than his doctor ever did” and that he understood why he needed to follow the advice. Compared to before when words like Circadin rhythm were used and he looked clueless. 

I wrote down everything I had explained and asked him to try it for some time.

Later that week, he came in talking about his new sleep routine and how his sleep quality had significantly improved. He kept thanking me for making the interventions easy to understand.

As pharmacists, we often forget that there is a difference between a patient understanding something and remembering it. When you apply the Feynman Technique, you ensure that the patient will do both. When they understand something, they are more likely to remember and implement it.

It doesn’t just apply to the world of pharmacy but also to many other domains like the world of advertising. Any outreach that a company does is simple but effective. Anyone can understand what they are saying in their emails and advertising pages. 

So when a patient next comes to the pharmacy and asks about something really push yourself to simplify your language and if you can’t than chances are you need to reassess your understanding.

Ask the patient if they understand what has been said or even test them by asking them to explain what you just said.

These little changes can make a significant difference and greatly enhance the patient experience.

P.S  It would be great to hear some of your stories about success of trying to communicate better with patients.

More About the Author:

Head pharmacist at Your Chemist Shop Top Ryde, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Science and a Master’s Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Sydney.

I completed my internship at Priceline Pharmacy Baulkham Hills and have extensive prior experience at Pharmacy4Less Top Ryde.

I also organise high-end company advertising and copy. I am passionate about healthcare and enhancing company outreach.

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