The way you talk to your patients has consequences for the way they make important decisions about their medical care, ultimately affecting how they feel about you as their physician. Yet a patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan may include complex medical terms and concepts they’re unfamiliar with, especially when the condition isn’t common or is very complicated. A lack of understanding around key treatment issues can create problems—not only for outcomes but also for your relationship.
To be effective, your communication must be tailored to your patients’ needs, which means reading your patients to assess how much detail they want to know and how familiar they already are with their condition. Of course, this may be easier said than done. Here are six strategies to keep in mind when discussing complicated medical issues.
1. Start with the big picture
When speaking with patients, it’s helpful to frame what you’re saying in a way that drives major points home. Often, there are multiple issues at play, and patients may be focused on things like convenience, while you’re focused on avoiding complications.
One way to make sure that no one drops the ball is by targeting the big picture. For example, if your patient’s condition is expected to worsen if they don’t begin physical therapy, prioritizing that plan of action is of primary importance. Your patient, on the other hand, may be concerned about whether missing a scheduled medication dose will be problematic. Take the time to address this concern, but be sure to reemphasize the urgency of getting therapy.
2. Use patient-friendly terminology
Using clear language and avoiding vague or overly technical jargon will help your patients digest complex medical information. A study published in Health Literacy Research and Practice found that sometimes patients neither understand medical terminology nor recognize the gaps in their comprehension. Just as you would want your financial planner or appliance repair technician to use terms that you’re familiar with, your patients also benefit when you communicate in an easily comprehensible way. For instance, patients are more likely to understand tests to rule out “liver” disease than “hepatic” disease.
At the same time, take care to avoid oversimplifying your explanations. In many cases, it may not be appropriate to describe an immune condition as a problem with the patient’s “disease-fighting army” when speaking to an adult, even if some children would appreciate this type of explanation. Looking for clues to your patient’s level of understanding of the material will help you avoid patronizing language and tone.