| 1. Assess patients' baseline understanding before providing extensive information |
| Example for a patient newly diagnosed with hypertension: “Before we go on, could you tell me what you already know about high blood pressure?” |
| This allows educational content to be tailored to the patient's informational needs |
| 2. Explain things clearly using plain language. Avoid medical jargon, vague terms, and terms with different medical and lay terms |
| Example: say “chest pain” instead of “angina” |
| Example: say “hamburger” instead of “red meat” |
| Example: say “You don't have HIV” instead of “Your HIV test results were negative” |
| 3. Emphasize 1 to 3 key points |
| Repeat these points throughout the visit |
| 4. Effectively encourage patients to ask questions. Use an open-ended approach |
| Example: ask “What questions do you have?” instead of “Do you have any questions?” |
| 5. Use a teach-back to confirm patient understanding |
| Place the burden on your shoulders to have explained the information clearly, normalize the process, and be specific |
| Example: “I always ask my patients to repeat things back to make sure I have explained them clearly. I'd like you to tell me how you're going to take the new medicine that we talked about today.” |
| Example: “When you get home, your [husband/wife] will ask you what the doctor said. What will you tell them?” |
| To confirm understanding of a skill, ask the patient to demonstrate the behavior (e.g., use of a metered dose inhaler) |
| 6. Write down important instructions |
| This lets patients know exactly what they should do after the visit |
| 7. Provide useful educational materials |
| This gives patients more time to absorb the information. Such materials are accessible to family members who may be helping patients at home |
