• Building Trust: Elicit information and questions with respect and compassion.
• Forming the Basis: Gather essential insights for a productive discussion.

• Patient-Centered Approach: Sit at eye level, focus on the patient (not the chart or screen).
• Seamless Communication: Allow uninterrupted patient expression.

• Validate Knowledge: Express patient’s authority with statements like “You know your body better than I do.”
• Embrace Patient Perspective: Understand their health views, needs, and priorities.
  • Some questions you can ask:
    • What does your typical day look like?
    • What are the IBD symptoms you have experienced since your last visit?
    • What questions do you have about your IBD?
• Explore Patient’s Worldview using Arthur Kleinman’s explanatory model questions:
  • What do you fear most?
  • What are your chief complaints?
  • What care do you think you should receive?
  • What are the most important results you hope to receive from care?

• Encourage Inquiry.
• Invite patient questions.
• Clear and Respectful Responses: Answer fully and respectfully without interruptions.

“Ask Me 3” Technique:

• Empower Patients: Encourage patients to ask you three key questions.
  • What is my main problem?
  • What do I need to do?
  • Why is it important for me to do this?
• Vital Information Exchange: Address main problem, required actions, and importance.

Open-Ended Inquiry:

• Effective Engagement: Use open-ended questions.
• Inviting Dialogue: Encourage patient input without leading questions.