Patients with communication difficulties - 2

Question 1

What are the main ways to help patients understand you?

Answer 1

1. keep it simple
2. use visual support
3. check the patient has understood
4. don’t rush

Question 2

How can you keep what you say simple?

Answer 2

• break up info into small chunks
• use language that the pt can understand
• rephrase
• just use key terms if they find grammar hard to understand

Question 3

How can you use visual support?

Answer 3

• gestures
• write down key words or topics
• use pictures
• use easy read documents

Question 4

how can you check a patient has understood?

Answer 4

• ask them
• recap
• observe their facial expression, eye gaze, posture

Question 5

How can you make sure you don’t rush?

Answer 5

• speak slowly but clearly

- use pauses to give them extra time to understand what you have said

Question 6

What are the main ways you can support a patient to express themselves?

Answer 6

1. use questions well
2. encourage all forms of communication
3. check you’ve understood
4. don’t rush

Question 7

How can you use questions well?

Answer 7

• yes/no questions (closed)
• give fixed choices - use one hand for one choice and another hand for another choice
• only ask one question at a time
• ask the patient what helps them

Question 8

How can you use total communication to understand a patient?

Answer 8

Ask the patient to

• speek
• write
• draw
• gesture
• point

Question 9

How can you check whether you have understood what the patient has said to you?

Answer 9

• say that you are just going to recap what you have understood
• repeat back as much as you’ve understood
• say what you’ve understood and then what you haven’t rather than saying that you didn’t understand all together
• don’t act like you’ve understood when you haven’t

Question 10

How does not rushing help you understand a patient?

Answer 10

• gives the patient enough time to respond in their own way

Question 11

What methods can you use to help a patient understand you?

Answer 11

• gestures
• drawing
• don’t rush, pause, speak slower
• use shorter sentences
• check their understanding
• recap
• use easy read documents

Question 12

What methods can you use to help you to understand your patient?

Answer 12

• Ask them what helps them express themselves (writing, drawing, gestures)
• use questions well , closed questions if needed
• give fixed choices
• give them time to answer
• pointing to letters