Health Literacy Feature!
6Simple steps to improving
communication with patients & caregivers.
Healthcare providers – ever wonder if your patient understands
your instructions on how to take their medications , how to monitor their blood pressure at home or what to follow ip on prior to the next doctors visit? Clear communication is the foundation for patients to be able to understand and act on health information. This leads to improved patient safety & better health outcomes. Follow these simple tips by Dr O. Ikezuagu.
1. Use plain, nonmedical language & pictures.
Explain things to patients like you would explain them to your grandmother. For example instead of column A, use column B
Column A
Analgesic
Anti-inflammatory
Benign
Carcinoma
Cardiac problem
Cellulitis
Contraception
Enlarge
Heart failure
Hypertension
Infertility
Lateral
Lipids
Menopause
Menses
Monitor
Oral
Osteoporosis
Referral
Terminal
Toxic
2. Slow down.
Communication can be improved by speaking slowly, and by spending just a small amount of additional time with
each patient. This will help foster a patient-centered approach to the clinician-patient interaction.
3. Show or draw pictures.
Visual images can improve the patient’s recall of ideas.
4. Limit the amount of information provided— and repeat it.
Information is best remembered when it is given in small pieces that are pertinent to the tasks at hand. Repetition further enhances recall.
5. Use the “teach-back” technique.
Confirm that patients understand by asking them to repeat back your instructions.
6. Create a shame-free environment: Encourage questions.
Make patients feel comfortable asking questions. Consider using the Ask-Me-3 program. Enlist the aid of others (patient’s family or friends) to promote understanding.
Source: Joint Commission, HHA, NIH, CDC