Skip main navigation

New offer! Get 30% off one whole year of Unlimited learning. Subscribe for just £249.99 £174.99. New subscribers only. T&Cs apply

Find out more

Encouraging patients to ask questions

In this video a healthcare professional encourages her patient to ask questions.

The main advantage of using the Ask Me 3 approach is that patients have a concrete tool they can use to make sure they receive all necessary information from their healthcare provider.

However, there are also some drawbacks. One is that it is actually the healthcare provider’s responsibility to ensure that the person understands their situation and what they have to do – not the patient. In this video you can see how a healthcare professional can encourage his/her patient to ask questions.

The strategies that are used by the counselor in this video include:

  • Asking open ended questions
  • Using body language: sit at the same level, look and listen, taking the time
  • Encourage questions multiple times during the consultation

After watching the video, please reflect on the following question:

How is enabling patients to ask questions empowering?

This article is from the free online

Working with Patients with Limited Health Literacy

Created by
FutureLearn - Learning For Life

Reach your personal and professional goals

Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.

Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.

Start Learning now