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11/13/24, 8\:18 PM Guide | Information giving - an overview

Information giving - an overview

Table of contents

Overview

Quali
may form part of the consultation or be the sole reason why the consultation was arranged. Some examples include\:
Explaining a surgical procedure before gaining consent
Explaining how to use an inhaler
Explaining a new diagnosis and treatment plan
Providing lifestyle advice to help a patient lose weight
Explaining a procedure (e.g. endoscopy, colonoscopy)
E
the doctor-patient relationship and can help reduce patient anxiety. This guide provides a brief overview of the key elements of
e

Preparation

As with every clinical communication scenario, each situation must be handled individually depending on
the clinical context and the patient’s needs.
Ensure you understand the subject/procedure before you start giving information – this is imperative to prevent you from
providing unclear information and being poorly equipped to answer the patient’s questions.
“ B e f o r e w e s t a r t , l e t m e r e v i e w t h e d e t a i l s o f t h i s p r o c e d u r e s o I c a n a n s w e r a n y q u e s t i o n s y o u m i gh t h a v e .
"
Look at the patient’s previous consultations (if relevant) – have they been given information on this before? Have they been
told the diagnosis? Were they given reading material in the previous consultation that they might have questions they want to
ask about?
“ I s e e f r o m y o u r l a s t v i s i t t h a t [ n a m e ] d i s c u s s e d y o u r d i a g n o s i s . D o y o u h a v e a n y q u e s t i o n s a b o u t w h a t y o u w e r e t o l d ?"
Consider the approach – are you giving the patient information that might be di
to break bad news.

Introduction

Wash your hands and don PPE if appropriate.
Introduce yourself including your full name and role.
Check you have the correct patient and con
Explain the purpose of the interview (e.g.
" I h a v e b e e n a s k e d t o s p e a k t o y o u a b o u t s o m e r e c e n t i n v e s t i ga t i o n s y o u h a v e h a d .
" ).
If you see the patient instead of their usual doctor, apologise for the change and explain that you are stepping in for whatever
reason.
Gain consent to discuss the topic with the patient and explain that the discussion will be con
Try to build rapport from the beginning of the consultation (e.g. o
https\://app.geekymedics.com/osce-guides/counselling/information-giving-an-overview/ 1/411/13/24, 8\:18 PM Guide | Information giving - an overview

Check the patient's agenda

Before delivering the information to the patient (i.e. part of your agenda), check to see what the patient’s expectations of the
consultation are, as they might be di
notes or the brie
Are they ready/willing to receive information today?
“ I s i t o k i f w e g o o v e r y o u r r e c e n t i n v e s t i ga t i o n s y o u’ v e h a d ?"
“ I s i t o k a y t o d i s c u s s y o u r t e s t r e s u l t s t o d a y ?"
Were they expecting to receive information today?
“ W h a t w e r e y o u e x p e c t i n g f r o m t o d a y’ s c o n s u l t a t i o n ?"
Were they planning to discuss something else?
“ W a s t h e r e a n y t h i n g e l s e a s i d e f r o m t h e r e s u l t s y o u w e r e h o p i n g t o d i s c u s s t o d a y ?"
Assessment of the patient’s agenda allows you to integrate ideas, concerns and expectations (ICE) into your consultation,
which often sounds arti
Ideas
“ H a v e y o u t h o u g h t a b o u t w h a t m i g h t b e c a u s i n g t h i s / [ t h e s y m p t o m ] ?"
“ W h a t d o y o u t h i n k m i g h t b e g o i n g o n w i t h y o u r h e a l t h ?"
Concerns
“ I s t h i s s o m e t h i n g y o u’ v e l o o k e d i n t o o r h a v e a n y p a r t i c u l a r c o n c e r n s a b o u t ?"
“ Y o u m e n t i o n e d a f e w t h i n g s h e r e . I s t h e r e o n e t h i n g p a r t i c u l a r l y c o n c e r n i n g y o u ?"
Expectations
“ I s t h e r e s o m e t h i n g i n p a r t i c u l a r y o u h o p e d w e m i g h t d o f o r y o u r [ s y m p t o m ] t o d a y ?"
“ H a v e y o u h a d a n y s p e c i

Check the patient’s prior knowledge

Check to see what the patient already understands about the subject. Otherwise, you may waste time telling the patient what
they already know and not address speci
appropriate level.
Structure and adapt your questions, depending on what they already know\:
“ I n y o u r c o n s u l t a t i o n l a s t w e e k , w e r e t h e r e s u l t s o f y o u r r e c e n t i n v e s t i ga t i o n s e x p l a i n e d ?"
“ T e l l m e w h a t y o u u n d e r s t a n d a b o u t y o u r c o n d i t i o n .
"
Allow the patient to say everything they want and avoid interrupting them. If they explain what they already know, listen
carefully and watch their facial and body language. This might reveal that their understanding is incorrect, or it may reveal
strong emotions associated with the subject matter (e.g. anxiety, sadness).

Set the context

Once you have checked the patient’s agenda and prior knowledge, it’s appropriate to commence information giving.
Signpost, if not done already, about what information you would like to give the patient\:
“ T o d a y , I w o u l d l i k e t o t a l k y o u t h r o u gh h o w t o u s e a n i n h a l e r .
"
You could also explain the steps you are going to take\:
“ F i r s t , I w i l l t a l k t h r o u g h t h e s t e p s , a n d I’ l l d e m o n s t r a t e t h e p r o c e d u r e a f t e r w a r d s .
"
Con
" A r e y o u h a p p y f o r m e t o d i s c u s s t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n n o w ?"
" D o y o u w a n t s o m e o n e e l s e p r e s e n t w h i l e w e d i s c u s s t h i s ?"
https\://app.geekymedics.com/osce-guides/counselling/information-giving-an-overview/ 2/411/13/24, 8\:18 PM Guide | Information giving - an overview

Chunk and check

When giving information, it’s important to break it down into small chunks. In addition, make it clear to the patient that they
are welcome to interrupt you if they feel you are going too fast or they don’t understand something.
Watch the patient’s face while giving information. Look for non-verbal cues that they are feeling overwhelmed. If you see that
they are, take a short pause and allow space for questions before continuing.
People may be reluctant or ashamed to admit they are confused, so simply asking, “ D o y o u u n d e r s t a n d e v e r y t h i n g I’ v e s a i d ?"
may not be helpful. Instead, ask them to repeat the information you have just communicated back to you in their own words.
Try to check understanding at regular intervals rather than at the end of the consultation.
“ J u s t t o c h e c k t h a t m y i n s t r u c t i o n s m a d e s e n s e , c a n y o u s h o w m e h o w y o u w o u l d u s e y o u r i n h a l e r ? I f a n y t h i n g i s n’ t c l e a r , I’ l l
g o o v e r i t a g a i n .
"
It can be challenging to check understanding without sounding patronising, particularly when you haven’t had much practice.
The key is to acknowledge that the information is complex and that it is normal to not remember or understand it all initially. A
possible example phrase could be\:
“ I k n o w t h i s i s a l l q u i t e c o m p l e x , s o I j u s t w a n t e d t o c h e c k I’ m e x p l a i n i n g i t w e l l . W o u l d y o u b e a b l e t o r e p e a t t h e k e y p o i n t s o f
w h a t I’ v e s a i d s o f a r t o m a k e s u r e I’ v e n o t m i s s e d a n y t h i n g ?"

Avoid jargon

Make sure you explain the information using non-technical language. Some patients may know a lot about their condition, and
in these cases, you may be able to use some technical terms, but only if they have already demonstrated clear understanding.

Invite dialogue and link the information

Encourage the patient to ask questions during the explanation. Some patients may require this encouragement to feel they
have permission to interrupt with questions.
Try to link the information you are communicating to what has already been mentioned by the patient\:
“ Y o u m e n t i o n e d e a r l i e r t h a t t h e p r o b l e m i s w i t h t h e s t o m a c h l i n i n g, w h i c h i s w h y t h e p r o c e d u r e n e e d s t o t a k e a s a m p l e f r o m
i t .
"
Brie
rather than a real one.
“ T h e n e x t s t e p w o u l d b e t o m a k e a n a p p o i n t m e n t f o r t h e e n d o s c o p y p r o c e d u r e o n c e y o u h a v e c o n s i d e r e d i f y o u a r e h a p p y
t o g o a h e a d \:
"
“ W e w i l l s e e y o u b a c k a t t h e c l i n i c t o r e v i e w y o u r t r e a t m e n t p l a n .
"

Thank the patient and o

Thank the patient for their time.
O
Acknowledge that you have given a lot of information in one go and that if they have any questions after they’ve left, they are
welcome to get in touch to have those questions addressed.
Dispose of PPE appropriately and wash your hands.
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Source\: geekymedics.com
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