1.6. Active Listening and Interviewing Patient
Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students will:
- Use active listening techniques during patient interactions.
- Identify key medical symptoms and phrases commonly used in patient interviews.
- Apply active listening techniques, such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and asking clarifying questions, to gather accurate patient information.
- Practice taking structured notes on patient concerns and medical history.
Part 1: Brainstorming
- What do you think is active listening?
- Why is active listening important in classroom? How about in healthcare setting?
- How do you know the person you are talking to is actively listening?
What is active listening?
Active listening means fully focusing on, understanding, and responding to the person speaking. It involves eye contact, nodding, asking questions, and repeating key points to show understanding.
Examples
Example 1: Listening to a Patient’s Symptoms
A patient tells a CMA, “I feel dizzy and have had a headache for two days.” The CMA practices active listening by:
- Making eye contact and nodding to show they are paying attention.
- Asking questions like, “Have you taken any medicine for the headache?”
- Repeating key information: “So, you’ve been feeling dizzy and had a headache for two days?”
Example 2: Clarifying a Doctor’s Instructions
A doctor tells the CMA, “Make sure the patient doesn’t eat or drink before their blood test tomorrow.” The CMA actively listens by:
- Rephrasing: “The patient must fast before the test?”
- Asking a follow-up question: “For how many hours should they avoid food and drinks?”
- Taking notes to remember the details accurately
Part 2: Practice
In pairs, you are going to practice active listening.
Student A: You are going to tell your partner about why you decided to become a CMA (for at least 1 minute).
Student B: You actively listen to your partner, and use the strategies mentioned in the previous activity. You will need to summarize what was said and ask for confirmation.
Switch roles.
Discuss as a class:
- How did you feel to be the speaker? How about the listener?
- What strategies did you use to help you listen actively?
Part 3: Medical history terms
Part 4: Listening
Listen to the patient interview and write down all the active listening strategies the CMA uses while interviewing the patient.
Now listen to the interview again and fill the blank spaces.
Part 5: Speaking
Role play: Your instructor will provide you with role paly situations and you need to act it out.
Discuss
- Why is it important to confirm understanding of a patient’s statements?
- What role does summarizing play in clear communication with patients?
