Clinical Skills and Patient Communication
Core concepts
Understand effective communication: active listening, empathy, plain language, teach-back, and shared decision-making. Know how to deliver bad news, discuss risk, and obtain informed consent. Familiarize yourself with motivational interviewing and its role in behavior change (diabetes control, smoking cessation, adherence). Know the importance of cultural competence and health literacy in patient education.
Traps in questions
A common trap is choosing a paternalistic response over one that respects patient autonomy and involves shared decision-making. Another is failing to use teach-back to confirm understanding. Know that empathy and acknowledgment of emotion are usually the best first response to a distressed patient.
Rule of thumb
When a patient expresses emotion or reluctance, acknowledge it first, then explore and educate-empathy before information.
Worked example
A patient with diabetes is reluctant to check blood sugars. Rather than lecturing, use motivational interviewing: ask open-ended questions, reflect, and explore ambivalence to support behavior change.