AIM:  To increase awareness of active listening strategies.

INTRODUCTION: Active listening is an important part of effective interactions; active listening involves more than just hearing what has been said.  Active listening is a skill which shows that you have both heard and are interested in what the patient is saying.

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the following dialogues and decide which of the active listening strategies the doctor is demonstrating.

Question 1:

Patient: I’ve just had a lack of energy, motivation lately. I’m currently working full time and I’m studying also for the CPA, and I just came to see if I can get some vitamins or something like that just to get my energy levels up.
Doctor: OK, yeah, right.

Question 2:

Patient: I’ve just had a lack of energy, motivation lately. I’m currently working full time and I’m studying also for the CPA, and I just came to see if I can get some vitamins or something like that just to get my energy levels up.
Doctor: And how long have you been feeling like this?

Question 3:

Patient: I’ve just had a lack of energy, motivation lately. I’m currently working full time and I’m studying also for the CPA, and I just came to see if I can get some vitamins or something like that just to get my energy levels up. 
Doctor: It sounds as if you’re very busy.

Question 4:

Patient: I thought maybe you can give me something now and you know I get my energies up and, you know, she’ll be happy when she comes back.
Doctor: So it all started even before she went away?

Question 5:

Patient: I thought maybe you can give me something now and you know I get my energies up and, you know, she’ll be happy when she comes back.
Doctor:  Mm, I see

Question 6:

Patient: I thought maybe you can give me something now and you know I get my energies up and, you know, she’ll be happy when she comes back.
Doctor: OK, I understand that Chris.  We’ll see what we can do.

Please answer every question before continuing.