Encourage questions:
- Set the expectation that the patient should ask questions by frequently pausing and asking, “What questions do you have?”
- Other ways to elicit questions:
- “We discussed a lot of information. What can we review again?”
- “[Diagnosis] may be new to you. I expect that you have some questions. What would you like to know more about?”
- Use body language to invite questions:
- Sit at eye level with the patient.
- Turn your chair and look at patients when talking and listening, as opposed to looking at the computer.