Communication: part 2 - delivering findings and advice to the patient

The outcome and consequences of results from examination tests need to be communicated in a way that can be easily understood by the patient, encouraging them to follow the advice that has been given by the practitioner. For a number of reasons, the delivery of findings and advice to the patient is a highly complex communicative activity. The content of information given can vary widely in length and seriousness. In addition, patients can vary in their capacity to understand information delivered and in their ability to cope with ‘bad news’. Finally, the ways in which findings and advice are communicated can have a significant impact on patient adherence and compliance with management recommendations.