Soliciting questions

One of the most effective communication behaviors can engage in to assure patient understanding is to simply ask if the patient has any questions. There are a couple different techniques one could employ to accomplish this task, some of which more effective than others. The first is to simply ask: Do you have any questions? But this is what is called a close-ended question, one that can be answered with a yes or no. To solicit more than a one word answer, use an open-ended question: What questions do you have for me? An especially effective technique, though more time-consuming, is a request for teach-back, in which the physician asks the patient to repeat back what was just said, as a way of soliciting patient understanding and any underlying questions. "You may have to explain this result to your spouse or family members when you get home, just to make sure I did a good job explaining this, can you repeat back to me what we just talked about. Making the effort to encourage questions effectively engages the patient in the conversation and enables them to be an active participant in their own health care. Meanwhile, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, contends questions are the answer.