Patient-provider communication strategy may boost education (October 2016)

Summary

This American article looks at a patient safety communication strategy called 'teach-back', outlined by a Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) guide.

During patient teach-back, providers explain patient medical conditions, treatment options, or self-care instructions to patients. They then ask patients to repeat the information back to them in their own words.

The goal of teach-back is to ensure that you have explained medical information clearly so that patients and their families understand what you communicated to them,” the AHRQ guide explains. “This low-cost, low-technology intervention can be the gateway to better communication, better understanding, and ultimately shared decision-making.”