How would you change your communication style if a patient's family was having trouble understanding what you were trying to tell them?

"If in a situation where a patient and their family weren't understanding me, I would begin to explain things in a much simpler manner for them and ask questions of them so I could effectively gauge they were in full understanding. We are very 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 resident with your program is to ensure that my patients are believers in their care plan and 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 is fully understanding what you are telling them and how you would adjust the conversation based on the audience. Then, discuss how poor comprehension comes with a high burden of decreased patient outcomes, increased financial ramifications for patients and the healthcare system, and decreased patient satisfaction.