Strategies to Support Patient Comprehension
September 2022
Reading time: 3 minutes
A significant challenge in healthcare communication is ensuring that patients understand both verbal and written health information, including treatment explanations, recommendations, instructions, educational materials, and more.
Health information and services often are unfamiliar and confusing, and people of all ages, races, cultures, incomes, and educational levels struggle with health literacy and numeracy. Taking steps to support patient comprehension is a critical element of patient engagement and patient-centered care. The following checklist can help chiropractors evaluate their current approaches for ensuring patient comprehension and identify potential gaps and opportunities for improvement.
| Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Do you provide verbal health information and instructions in lay language and use words that are well known to individuals without medical training (e.g., “shortness of breath” instead of “dyspnea,” and “dry mouth” instead of “xerostomia”)? | ||
| If no common term exists for a medical or technical term, do you explain the term the first time you use it? | ||
| Are patient forms and educational materials easy-to-read, and do they adhere to the principles of plain language? | ||
| Is information organized in a logical and clear manner, with the most important information presented first? | ||
| Do discussions and written materials focus on what the patient needs to know and what they might want to know? | ||
| Does information exclude extraneous details that could distract the patient and potentially inhibit understanding? | ||
| Are well-designed visual aids (e.g.; illustrations, videos, etc.) used to help reinforce important messages and concepts? | ||
| When possible, and with the patient’s permission, do you include the patient’s family members and significant others in discussions about the patient’s care? | ||
| As part of communication strategies, do you consider factors that might affect comprehension, such as language barriers, cultural beliefs and values, disabilities, and the patient’s overall capacity to understand? | ||
| Does your practice have access to language services, interpreters, and assistive technologies to meet patients’ diverse needs, and are patients made aware of these resources? (Note: Although including families and significant others in patient care is strategy for improving comprehension, these individuals should not be used as interpreters). | ||
| Does your practice’s philosophy on informed consent reinforce the belief that patients must fully understand the information provided during the consent process to make informed decisions? | ||
| Is the informed consent process tailored to each patient and does it include a clear explanation of risks, benefits, and alternative options? | ||
| Do you use open-ended questions rather than closed-ended questions to facilitate more meaningful communication? | ||
| Do you use techniques and methods that can aid in cross-cultural communication and help determine whether patients fully understand health information (e.g., motivational interviewing, the LEARN model, the explanatory model, the RESPECT model, and the teach-back technique)? | ||
| Do you encourage patients to ask questions, and is ample time allotted for questions and review of materials during patient appointments? | ||
| Do you provide follow-up instructions verbally and in writing to reinforce the information? | ||
| Do you provide patients with updated written instructions if changes in their care plans occur? | ||
| When patients do not adhere to treatment plans, do you consider and assess whether they might not understand information or have health literacy barriers? | ||
| Do chiropractors and staff members at your organization receive training about health literacy barriers and techniques to improve communication and patient comprehension? |
Resources
For more information on this topic, see MedPro’s Risk Resources: Health Literacy and Cultural Competence.
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This document should not be construed as legal or medical advice and should not be construed as rules or establishing a standard of care. Because the facts applicable to your situation may vary, or the laws applicable in your jurisdiction may differ, please contact your attorney or other professional advisors if you have any questions related to your legal or medical obligations or rights, state or federal laws, contract interpretation, or other legal questions.
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