PRO-based clinical communication
Discussing sensitive topics
Patients may often hesitate to raise sensitive/intimate topics. Give these areas special attention!
PROMs can act as a conversation starter for issues such as sexuality, depression, and anxiety that might otherwise remain unaddressed. Including sensitive topics in PROMs signals to patients that these issues matter and increases the likelihood that they will raise them themselves. On the other hand, HCP can use PRO data of sensitive issues for further exploration and counselling.
How to talk about sensitive topics?
“[…] to focus on asking where there are problems, even in sensitive areas that one would not otherwise ask about. ... For example, in the case of prostate radiation, sexual functioning, […] With brain patients, I think it's nice to see more precisely what exactly they have problems with, in which area. Without asking exactly about cognitive limitations, but knowing roughly in which area patients have problems. I find that quite practical.”
A study (Fogarty et al. 1999) showed that 40 seconds of empathetic communication can reduce patient anxiety significantly compared to standard (less empathetic) communication. Empathetic communication includes interest in and openness for the patients’ perceptions and experiences, offering of realistic encouragement, assurance of continued care and validation of the patient’s emotional state.
Van der Willik et. al. 2022; Epstein et al. 2007; Robinson, Lounsberry & Walker 2017; Fogarty et al. 1999; Zwingmann et al. 2017; Interview, Sztankay et al. 2021