How to use the teach-back method

In the teach-back method, at the end of a consultation the health professional asks a question to check that they have explained the issue in a way that the patient has understood.

The questions may vary, depending on the patient and the context. Here are some examples:

• I want to be sure I explained everything clearly.
• Can you explain it back to me so I can be sure I did?
• What will you tell your husband about the changes we made to your medicines today?
• We covered a lot today about prediabetes, and I want to make sure that I explained things well. Can you tell me how you would describe it to a friend?
• I want to be sure that I clearly described some of the steps you can take to prevent type-2 diabetes. Is there one thing you can do this week to get started?

Here are some interesting sources to check if you want to learn more about the teach-back method:

• A short explanation by teachbacktraining.org.
• A short explanation by IHI Open Schools
• A role play example: