Adapted from Providing CLAS - Think Cultural Health with input from people living with IBD and an expert steering committee
LEARN
The LEARN model is a framework for listening, explaining, acknowledging, recommending, and negotiating health information and instructions.
Listen with empathy for the patient’s perception of the problem
- What does a good day look like for you?
- What do you feel may be causing your IBD flares?
Explain your perception of the issue
- Link your explanation to something the patient already knows or pose a problem to which the new information can be applied.
Acknowledge and discuss differences and similarities
- Promote patient involvement in the appointment throughout.
Recommend treatment. Suggest a treatment plan that is developed with the patient’s involvement, including culturally appropriate aspects
- Listen to patient concerns and agree on solutions that will enhance their commitment.
Negotiate agreement. The final treatment plan should be determined as mutually agreeable by both the care provider and patient
- Completion of all these steps will help increase quality of care and provider/patient relationship with a heightened sense of health equity and affirming care.
Tips
- Be careful not to dismiss a patient if they disagree – the goal is to build trust and share in decisions, which may take time.
- Coordinate care with other physicians if patient has transportation difficulty (e.g., making sure they can see multiple providers in one day or consider virtual visits if patient has internet or work with social workers to find solutions).
- See if patient can access public library for Wi-Fi/internet - many libraries have rooms a patient could reserve for a telehealth appointment for privacy.
Related Patient Resources
Appointment Guide
Created by the Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses, this downloadable PDF helps individuals prepare for and get the most out of their medical appointments related to IBD. The guide offers practical tips and checklists for organizing medical information, asking questions, tracking symptoms, and discussing treatment options during appointments.
Download
Effective Partnering
A webpage from the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation that focuses on the concept of effective partnering between patients and healthcare providers in the context of IBD. Emphasizes the importance of open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Visit site
Shared Decision-Making
Focuses on shared decision-making in the context of IBD. Explains the concept of shared decision-making as a collaborative approach between patients and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about treatment options and management plans.
Download
Reference
- 1. Office of Minority Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Think cultural health. Providing CLAS. Accessed April 1, 2024. https://thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/assets/pdfs/resource-library/providing-clas.pdf.