Clinicians at all levels will work with patients who have an array of medical problems. The student's first task is to learn the natural history of these illnesses. They should find out what will happen to the patient during their hospitalization and after, and whether the illness will resolve or continue to outpatient care. An easy way to learn this information is to look at the patient's problem list for diagnoses and potential diagnoses, then look up each ailment in a reliable medical source. Commonly, the student will find themselves diagnosing an illness in the general sense, running to a computer to look up more information, and then presenting the information to the resident or attending physician. This process is crucial for clinical learning and puts evidence-based medicine into direct practice for patient care.
Next, if you're having difficulty understanding a patient's complaint or medical history, learn how to ask open-ended questions that encourage patients to elaborate. Never be afraid to ask for elaboration or clarification about a symptom. Don't presume that it's not important just because you're having difficulty understanding it. Oftentimes, our intervention for a patient will be based on the little, yet significant, pieces of information that we uncover with thorough history-taking. Articulating to the patient your interpretations and impressions about their condition will not only improve patient understanding but also serve to validate or correct your understanding of the information that was given.
Always invite and address patient questions as well. This lets patients know that you have a genuine concern for their worries and are willing to spend the time to inform and reassure them. Finally, be sure to explain in clear and simple terms the history, physical findings, assessments, and plans for any given medical situation. This is an area where frequent practice with daily reinforcement will lead to vast improvements in communication skills.
If patients trust you and feel that you genuinely care about their well-being, they will be more likely to disclose personal information that may be relevant to their health. Show confidence and comfort with patients by first mastering the basic elements of doctor-patient communication. It is important to make good eye contact, introduce yourself in a friendly and polite manner, acknowledge the patient's discomfort, and avoid interrupting them when they are describing their symptoms.
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