Being a medical professional might be one of the busiest jobs out there. Working as a medical professional means you are constantly on the go, with overwhelming work schedules and very little time to meet with patients. However, health communication is extremely important for doctors to learn, as it builds a foundation for successful doctor-patient relationships when done right, even if your job doesn’t necessarily involve communicating with patients. Plus, your patients will judge you based on your ability to communicate well with them, which can affect your reputation in the medical industry. Effective and good communication can go a long way in shaping your patients’ experiences. It can help your patients feel more supported, willing to take your advice, cooperate better, and trust your judgment. About 80% of serious medical errors in medical facilities involve miscommunication. Whether you spend your days researching or meeting with patients, here are some tips to help you communicate better with your patients.
1. Use simple language
The medical industry is filled with jargon and terms that the average person might not understand. While you must know these words and phrases, you must also know when and where to use them. When attending to patients, ensure that you use simple words or language they can easily understand and are comfortable with. Using medical terminologies would make them feel less confident and less likely to open up about their medical condition. Yes, some patients might have some knowledge of certain medical vocabulary, but using this language to discuss any diagnosis or treatment plans can bring about miscommunication.
Using simple, everyday language when engaging with patients, whether familiar with certain terms or not, ensures that you get your message across and that your patients have better chances of managing their diagnosis or recovering. In instances where you cannot avoid using such terms, make sure you explain it to them to avoid confusing them. You must also speak clearly and slowly, carefully enunciating any complex words if you have to. You can also use diagrams or other written instructions or guides to help them understand their symptoms or illness.
2. Ask open-ended questions
Part of healthcare training emphasizes what to ask patients when they come to see you. However, when practicing medicine, you wouldn’t get the information you seek by asking closed questions. Asking questions using words like “when,” “how,” or “what,” or even with a phrase instructing patients to tell you about their symptoms. Such question styles are guaranteed to generate more thorough responses.
Instead, find the perfect balance for asking both closed and open-ended questions. Asking these types of questions would demonstrate your interest, as well as make you appear more compassionate towards your patients. It also allows your patients to better reflect on their condition and give you the best responses.
3. Identify any non-verbal cues or signs
Part of effective communication comprises being able to pick on non-verbal signs. This includes being able to read facial expressions, eye contact, posture, gestures, and voice tones. Being able to read and understand these cues is a powerful tool that can help medical professionals to connect with their patients and ensure that there is mutual understanding. For example, your patient might respond with a “yes” if you ask them whether they understand your message without necessarily understanding what you’ve said. However, their body or facial expressions might show that they did not completely comprehend what was communicated.
Non-verbal cues also go both ways. Even though you might have a busy schedule, your body language might tell your patient that you are in a hurry and can cause them to limit how much information they share. Constantly tapping your foot or checking your watch while engaging with them could create a barrier to building a more successful patient-doctor relationship.
4. Use technology
Technology continues to play a crucial role in improving communication between medical professionals and patients. It has also helped patients have more access to medical care. Many doctors today use channels like video and phone calls and instant chat messaging applications to communicate with patients remotely. There are also devices that allow doctors to remotely track their patients in real-time.
When using these platforms, ensure that you do not bombard your patient with several messages. Ensure that there is a cohesive flow and that they understand your points. You must also avoid using short-hand text and other vague phrases when communicating with your patients. Just like any in-person appointment, you must be clear and concise when using technology.
5. Practice active listening
Employing active listening is an excellent way to show your patients that you understand and empathize with them. It involves giving them your full attention and support. When a patient sees your effort when listening to them speak, it builds trust and helps them open up about uncomfortable or embarrassing symptoms. You might miss out on vital information when you fail to properly listen and engage with your patients. It might also be damaging to their treatment and care. When you actively listen and give them medical advice in a non-judgmental manner, it makes your patients more receptive to treatment and eases all their fears and anxieties.
There are a few ways to show you are listening to your patients. Nodding your head, maintaining eye contact at short intervals, and including minimal verbal encouragement are all signs that show you are paying attention.
6. Establish a dialogue
Effective communication is a two-way street that ensures a good balance of discourse and dialogue. It is a quick way to develop relationships and build trust. It also aids in knowing whether or not your patients understand, agree, or disagree with their diagnosis and treatment plans. When you create a healthy environment for discourse, it helps them to confidently ask questions to clear any misconceptions or misunderstandings.
Encouraging dialogue is also a great way of attracting and retaining patients. When your patients feel comfortable around you, they become more actively involved in their care and are more likely to develop a sense of loyalty.
7. Be honest
One of the best ways to improve your communication skills as a medical professional is to be as honest as possible. To do this, you must speak with all your information. Do not hide any crucial information or data from your patients or any other healthcare professional your patients might also be seeing. The same goes for when you’re interacting with patients. Even if you have bad news about their condition, you must communicate that information to them. While you might not want to be blunt or upfront, there are several ways you can deliver bad news in a much more delicate manner. Hiding any important information about the state of their health can have adverse effects later.
It’s perfectly fine not to always be abreast with the latest technologies or findings. The medical space is constantly changing, with new findings being released daily. Instead of pretending to be aware, it’s better to admit that you are, in fact, not aware. Your patients and other professionals you work with would trust that once you read up on any new findings or discoveries, you would be better equipped to help them.
Part of being honest also includes knowing when to take responsibility for mistakes. As a human being, you are bound to hit a couple of snags and miscommunicate with your patients. If you can hold yourself accountable, it would make you appear more credible as a healthcare provider. The idea is to learn from your mistakes and not lie about them.
8. Use teach-back techniques
In certain instances, you might have to interact with patients and their family members about their medical conditions, treatment plans, and other important information. This skill is especially handy for medical practitioners working with families and providing health counseling. Patient teach-back is one technique to ensure that your patients and other people fully understand what you have told them. It involves you asking them to repeat what you have said and improves how much your patients understand you. It also encourages them to adhere to any instructions you have given to them. When your patients or their family members do not understand what you’ve said, it can cause them to be more apprehensive about treatment.
Ensure that you gently ask them to go over what you’ve said or give them a summary of their consultation to ensure that you’ve gone over every aspect.
When it comes to healthcare, communication is everything. It always helps to be fully present and engaged while attending to patients, whether you work in a major hospital, contract research organization, or small clinic. Not only would it make your patients feel more comfortable to share their health problems, but it would also help you diagnose and treat them much quicker. Including these tips and strategies in your healthcare practice will strengthen your patient communication and ability to provide the best medical service possible. It will also help improve your patients’ experience with you and make them feel valued whenever they visit you.