Choose your words wisely
Open questions can enable patients to ask questions.
Another very clear example of how question formulation can have an impact on the health professional and patient conversation can be found in this article.
In this English language example two question types were compared in an experimental design:
- “Is there anything else you want to address in the visit today?” (ANY condition) and
- “Is there something else you want to address in the visit today?” (SOME condition).
Main conclusion: Patients’ unmet concerns can be dramatically reduced by a simple inquiry framed in the SOME form. Both the learning and implementation of the intervention require very little time.
Can you think of other ways to use language as a tool to meet patients’ unmet concerns and needs and to open up a discussion between patient and health professional? Feel free to share your ideas in the discussion field and discuss with the other learners.
Working with Patients with Limited Health Literacy
Working with Patients with Limited Health Literacy
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