![]() ![]() “Are you able to stop the palpitations by straining or holding your breath?”.“Can you describe the worst episode of palpitations you have had so far?”.“How long does each episode of palpitations last on average?”.“How often do you experience palpitations?”.“How long have you been experiencing palpitations?”.“Could you tap out the pattern of the palpitations?”ĭuration and frequency of the palpitationsĪsk the patient about the duration and frequency of their episodes of palpitations:. ![]() “Do you sometimes feel like you’re missing a heartbeat, or having an extra heartbeat?”.“Does your heart feel like it’s beating in a regular or irregular rhythm during palpitations?”.“Have you ever recorded your pulse rate during an episode of palpitations?”.Try to roughly determine the rate and rhythm of the patient’s palpitations: “Does anything seem to make the palpitations better?”.If the patient feels alcohol or caffeine are triggers for their palpitations, it’s important to quantify their intake of these substances.Īsk if the patient has identified anything that improves or stops the palpitations: “Are there any obvious triggers for the palpitations?”.exertion, positional, anxiety, alcohol, caffeine, sleep deprivation): “What were you doing when the palpitations started?”Īsk if there are any obvious triggers for the patient’s palpitations (e.g.Onset of palpitationsĬlarify how and when the palpitations started: Gather further information to characterise the patient’s palpitations and rule out adverse features. Closed questions can also be used to identify relevant risk factors and narrow the differential diagnosis. Closed questions can allow you to explore the symptoms mentioned by the patient in more detail to gain a better understanding of their presentation. Open questions are effective at the start of consultations, allowing the patient to tell you what has happened in their own words. History taking typically involves a combination of open and closed questions. Signposting: this involves explaining to the patient what you have discussed so far and what you plan to discuss next.asking the patient how they are and offering them a seat). Making sure not to interrupt the patient throughout the consultation.uncrossed legs and arms, leaning slightly forward in the chair). Open, relaxed, yet professional body language (e.g.An appropriate level of eye contact throughout the consultation.Active listening: through body language and your verbal responses to what the patient has said.Demonstrating empathy in response to patient cues: both verbal and non-verbal.Some general communication skills which apply to all patient consultations include: Demonstrating these skills will ensure your consultation remains patient-centred and not checklist-like (just because you’re running through a checklist in your head doesn’t mean this has to be obvious to the patient). It is important you do not forget the general communication skills which are relevant to all patient encounters. ![]()
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