Health ministry of republic of moldova the university of medicine and pharmacy nicolae testemiţanu

Planning for the future 
Sometimes patients unnecessarily avoid or reduce their activities 
for fear it will make their illness worse. This coping strategy magnifies 
disability. Planning a graded return towards normal activities is one of 
the most effective ways of helping such patients. A plan should specify 
clearly what activity, for how long, when, with whom, and how often. It 
is best if the plan is written down and reviewed regularly. A collaborati-
ve approach increases the chances of success. 
Aspects of interview style that aid assessment of patients’ emo-
tional problems 
–
Make good eye contact. 
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Clarify presenting complaint. 
–
Use directive questions for physical complaints. 
–
Begin with open ended questions, moving to closed questions later. 
–
Make empathic comments. 
–
Pick up verbal cues. 
–
Pick up non-verbal cues. 
–
Do not read notes while taking patient’s history. 
–
Deal with over-talkativeness. 
–
Ask more questions about the history of the emotional problem. 
Eliciting a patient’s explanatory model 
When people consult a doctor, they do so with explanatory ideas 
about their problems and with anxieties and concerns that reflect these 
ideas. They are also likely to have hopes an expectations concerning the 

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care that they will receive. It is important not to make assumptions about 
patients’ health, beliefs, concerns, and expectations but to elicit these as 
a basis for providing information and negotiating a management plan. 
People’s health beliefs and behaviours develop and are sustained within 
families, and families are deeply affected by the illness of a family 
member. “Thinking family” can help to avoid difficult and frustrating 
interactions with family members.