Before providing information, the physician should find out what a patient already knows about his or her condition. Patients will come to the physician with preconceived notions about a particular condition, perhaps based on less than-authoritative sources. It is important, therefore, to determine what a patient already understands—or misunderstands—at the outset.
2. Physician should Assess What the Patient Wants to Know
Physicians should assess whether the patient desires, or will be able to comprehend, additional information. For the physician without advance knowledge of the patient, this need should arise so that the best can come out and the patient feels comfortable.
As when