You’re concerned about her ability to drive, and you need to discuss this. She was referred to you for the leg and arm weakness, so she’s not expecting to discuss her driving ability. SKILLS FOCUS of this script: Explanation and planning (Communication skills task #3) Closing the session (Communication skills task #4) Building the relationship (Communication skills task #5) Communication Potential script wording CONTENT skills to PROCESS skills to skills taska and other tips highlight highlight 3. Explanation Begin by asking how the Highlight what is Assess patient’s and planning patient perceives her needed for safe starting point driving ability driving: good eyes, Organize information Provide an assessment brain, and strong into discrete chunks of the patient’s function arms and legs Regular chunks and in plain language using Summarize the checks the content above in the weakness and Pick up and respond scenario sensory loss so the to verbal and Ask if the patient feels patient has a good cues her driving is safe, and understanding of Check with patient to depending on the deficits determine if she situation, ask do Explain that it is the accepts the “what you think I’m going to Ministry of information and if her say about your driving?” Transportation that concerns are being Pause regularly to gauge makes the final addressed reaction to the decision about ability information to drive; however, Check for body language physicians are throughout the mandated (in some interaction (the patient provinces) to report may say little verbally concerns about but express a lot of driving safety if the emotion through eye patient has a contact, posture, etc.) condition that may Allow time for questions affect their ability to drive 4. Closing the Provide support by Contract with the session offering to explore other patient for next steps transportation options Do a final check that Finish by asking if the the patient agrees patient has further with the plan and ask questions about what if there are any other was said or the next questions steps Offer to discuss again once the patient has had time to reflect on the information further
You’re concerned about her ability to drive, and you need to discuss this. She was referred to you for the leg and arm weakness, so she’s not expecting to discuss her driving ability. SKILLS FOCUS of this script: Explanation and planning (Communication skills task #3) Closing the session (Communication skills task #4) Building the relationship (Communication skills task #5) Communication skills taska Potential script wording and other tips CONTENT skills to highlight PROCESS skills to highlight 3. Explanation and planning Begin by asking how the patient perceives her driving ability Provide an assessment of the patient’s function in plain language using the content above in the scenario Ask if the patient feels her driving is safe, and depending on the situation, ask “what do you think I’m going to say about your driving?” Pause regularly to gauge reaction to the information Check for body language throughout the interaction (the patient may say little verbally but express a lot of emotion through eye contact, posture, etc.) Allow time for questions Highlight what is needed for safe driving: good eyes, brain, and strong arms and legs Summarize the weakness and sensory loss so the patient has a good understanding of deficits Explain that it is the Ministry of Transportation that makes the final decision about ability to drive; however, physicians are mandated (in some provinces) to report concerns about driving safety if the patient has a condition that may affect their ability to drive Assess patient’s starting point Organize information into discrete chunks Regular chunks and checks Pick up and respond to verbal and cues Check with patient to determine if she accepts the information and if her concerns are being addressed 4. Closing the session Provide support by offering to explore other transportation options Finish by asking if the patient has further questions about what was said or the next steps Offer to discuss again once the patient has had time to reflect on the information further Contract with the patient for next steps Do a final check that the patient agrees with the plan and ask if there are any other questions
Communicator_T3%20Small%20Group%20Activity_Communication%20scripts%20for%20day%20to%20day%20communication.docx