teach back

Patient care

After the health care provider relays disease-specific information, he or she asks the patient, caregivers, or family members, "Tell me what we've just discussed, " or "Explain to me how to take this medication, ” or “Explain to me how to prepare for surgery, ” or “Tell me whom to call if problems arise, ” etc. Providing the opportunity for teaching back is esp. helpful when assisting patients with limited health literacy to adhere to medical plans and retain complicated information, although it may be useful in other clinical encounters, as when patients are anxious, distracted, hurried, or overwhelmed.