As a fellow in our program, how would you change your communication style if a patient's family had trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?

"If a patient and their family didn't understand me, I would explain things in a much simpler manner and ask questions of them so I could effectively gauge their understanding. We are fortunate as medical professionals to understand and grasp the complexities of medical issues, but a majority of the general population simply does not. My goal as a fellow would be to ensure that my patients understand their care plan and are ready to move forward with it after being sent home."

First, your interviewers want to hear that you would be cognizant of your audience when discussing critical medical information with patients and their family members. Talk about how you would ensure that your audience fully understands what you are telling them and how you would adjust the conversation based on the audience.

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