Patients prefer the method of "tell back-collaborative inquiry" to assess understanding of medical information.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to determine which approach to assessing understanding of medical information patients most prefer and perceive to be most effective.


METHODS
Two videos were shown to participants: (1) a physician explaining a medical condition and its treatment and (2) a physician inquiring about patient understanding of the medical information the patient had been given using 3 different types of inquiry: Yes-No, Tell Back-Collaborative, and Tell Back-Directive.


RESULTS
The Tell Back-Collaborative inquiry was significantly preferred over the other 2 approaches.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients strongly prefer the Tell Back-Collaborative inquiry when assessing their understanding. We recommend that physicians ask patients to restate what they understand using their own words and that they use a patient-centered approach.
Kemp
Evelyn C
EC
Department of Family Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614-0621, USA. kempe@etsu.edu
Floyd
Michael R
MR
McCord-Duncan
Elizabeth
E
Lang
Forrest
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D030881:Disclosure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010361:Patients; D014743:Videotape Recording