THE ART AND PROCESS OF PATIENT-CENTERED INTERVIEWING

In patient-centred interviews, the physician purposefully seeks the pa tients' point of view and encourages the patient to speak openly and t o ask questions. This facilitates a deeper understanding of the patien ts' illness, fosters better communication, develops the patient-physic ian relationship and improves patient outcomes. It is beneficial for a ll clinicians to use this method of interviewing, particularly those w ho provide continuing, comprehensive primary care. The patient-centred interview method can be broken down into processes: introduction; elu cidation of the list of issues; exploration of the major issues; searc h; scan; assessment; discussion, explanation and plan; and conclusion. Length of the interview and the prominence of any of these processes vary, depending on the patient and the presenting problems. Both patie nt and doctor must play an active role in order for patient-centred in terviewing to be successful.