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# Communication Skills Another skill you must learn in order to be an effective interviewer is the art of using silence appropriately. During the interview, there will be times when neither you nor the patient will speak, especially in the early moments. You must learn to treat these pauses as nece...

# Communication Skills Another skill you must learn in order to be an effective interviewer is the art of using silence appropriately. During the interview, there will be times when neither you nor the patient will speak, especially in the early moments. You must learn to treat these pauses as necessary parts of the process and not be uncomfortable with them. Many times, the patient needs time to think about or react to the information you have provided or the question you have asked. ## Establishing Rapport Successful interviews are marked by a high degree of rapport between the two parties. Rapport is built mainly on mutual consideration and respect. You can aid this process by using good eye contact, by using a sincere, friendly greeting, by being courteous during the discussion, and by not stereotyping or prejudging the patient. ### 4.3.1 Process of Effective Interview The type of approach usually depends on the type of information desired and the environment and time available for it. #### 1. Type of Information Before the interview begins, you should determine the amount and type of information desired. #### 2. Type of Environment Planning for the interview must include consideration of the type of environment available. The environment is critical, because one of the fundamental principles of interviewing is to provide as much privacy as possible. #### 3. Starting the Interview After considering the type of environment available and the type of information desired, you should start the interview by greeting patients by name and by introducing yourself to patients if you do not know them. This helps establish rapport with the patient. You should also state the purpose of the interview, outline what will happen during the interview, and put the patient at ease. The purpose of the interview should be stated in terms of the benefit to the patient. The amount of time needed, the subjects to be covered, and the final outcome should be mentioned so that the patient has a clear understanding of the process. #### 4. Ending the Interview Bringing the interview to a close is often more difficult than starting the interview. It is a crucial part of the interview process because a person's evaluation of the entire interview and your performance may be based on the final statements. People seem to remember best what 12