Real-Life Communication -- Solution
After inviting your patient to sit down, you begin asking some questions.
Dr. Christine Petty says these types of conversations are common. A typical patient visit might go something like this:
You: Good morning, Mrs. Bell. How are you feeling today?
Patient: Not so well, I'm awfully tired all the time.
You: Have you been working extra shifts again at the warehouse?
Patient: Not exactly. I'm just working day shifts there now, but I've taken on a second job, which means I'm working a couple of extra nights a week.
You: Do you think you're getting enough sleep?
Patient: I think so. I never used to need more than four or five hours a night.
You: When you do sleep, are you sleeping well?
Patient: Not really, I guess. I wake up a lot and have trouble going back to sleep.
You: What about your diet -- are you eating well?
Patient: I guess so, although I really haven't had much of an appetite lately.
You: With your extra job, have you been making any time for fun?
Patient: I can't remember the last time I had fun. Since my husband has been out of work, there hasn't been much money for any of the extras. And even if there was, he never wants to do anything anyway.
According to the patient's answers, and without doing any further follow-up, Petty says this sounds like a case of depression.
Listening to a patient's concerns and asking a few questions is the best way for a doctor to determine if there's an underlying problem. Patients need to know a doctor is listening and that they care about the patient's health.