Open, empathic questions help patients feel safe to talk.
When having these conversations:
- Look and sound interested
- Use positive body language and appropriate eye contact
- Try to see the situation from the patient’s point of view
- Ask open questions rather than closed or leading ones
- Be curious, not intrusive
- Give patients time to think and respond
- Respond to what the patient is saying, rather than steering the conversation
The aim is to understand, not to lead.