The LICEF tool

The LICEF tool can be used during the information gathering part of a consultation to explore the patient’s perspective:

Lifestyle

Understanding any barriers to a patient taking their medicines in the right way at the right time. What is the individual’s perception and practicalities of living with their condition(s) and how does this impact medicine-taking behaviour? What can you do to support the person to overcome these barriers? For example, linking dose timings to regular activities, such as breakfast or watching the evening news, to remind people to take their medicines. Example question: What impact does taking medicines have on your day-to-day life?

Ideas

What can the patient tell you about their medicines? Do they understand which medicines are new or have changed since they were in hospital? Some patients may be very knowledgeable, while others will have inaccuracies in their understanding of their medicines. In this latter case, there is a responsibility to provide them with the correct information. Some patients will have made an informed decision about taking their medicines, which may not align with what you think is the best decision. However, if the person has capacity and has made an informed decision based on accurate facts then this should be accepted.Example questions: What do you think about the medicines you are taking now? How have you been getting on with the changes in your medicines since you have been in hospital?

Concerns

Sometimes a patient may have a concern that a pharmacy professional hasn’t considered. Example question: Is there anything in particular that is worrying you about taking your medicines?

Expectations

What are the options to provide support for the individual? Examples could include:

• Practical adjustments to support patients to take their medicines such as aligning timing of doses, use of reminder charts or large print labels
• Offering signposting information for support groups
• Referral to other healthcare professionals.

Example question: What do you think might be the best approach?

Feelings

Asking about a person’s ideas, concerns, expectations and feelings with regard to their medicines, as well as how they impact their day-to-day life, will help to identify what is important to them and help in providing the right support for them. Example question: How are you feeling about what is happening to you?