Use open-ended questions to deliberately check with the patient that you have discovered all they wish to discuss

• ‘So that’s a headache and tiredness; anything else …?’
• ‘Do you have some other concerns you’d like to discuss today?’
• ‘Is there something else you want to address today?’

Establishes mutually understood common ground; provides reassurance you’re actually interested

Exercise: Patients often come with multiple complaints. Often, patients will disclose their true (hidden) agenda as they are leaving the consultation. i.e. Oh… and by the way…

Why do you think this is the case?

What kinds of issues are most likely to present this way?

Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2013). Skills for Communicating with Patients (Thrid Edit). London: Radcliffe Publishing.