teachback

teachback
 n.— «Asking questions doesn’t ensure that patients understand the answers. For that reason, many doctors now advocate a method called teachback. First, a doctor explains the situation to the patient in language that’s as plain as possible. Then, he or she asks the patient to teach it back to the doctor. Not only does this force the doctor to use plain language, it also helps him or her identify any gaps in understanding.» —“Boost your health IQ” by Shari Rudavsky Indianapolis Star (Indiana) Nov. 6, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

Join the discussion

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Further reading

Mischief Night (episode #1684)

What’s up with ketchup? The shifting history and spelling of the name of this condiment. For centuries, ketchup was a fishy sauce originating in Asia—the tomatoes came only later! Plus, a new book shows what’s lost when a language dies: when there...

What Is So Humane About a Doctor of Humane Letters?

Kate in Omaha, Nebraska, wonders about the expression Doctor of Humane Letters, an honorary degree conferred by Creighton University. The words humane and letters in this case mean something slightly different from their modern meanings. The older...