Training activity information
Details
Identify and respond to the emerging needs of the patient or family within a trainee led consultation
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
- Flexible nature of the genetic counselling agenda and how this can lead to a shift in priorities, in order to respond to the needs of the individual or family
- The impact of a changing agenda on the rest of the consultation
- Explaining and manage timeframes
- How the individual and/or family may respond to the changing nature of the agenda
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- What are some common emerging needs you might anticipate in a genetic counselling consultation (e.g., emotional distress, need for clarification, information about support services)? What strategies do you currently have for identifying these needs?
- What specific indicators will you be looking for to identify emerging needs during a consultation? What range of responses might be appropriate, and which do you want to practice or learn more about?
- How will you prepare to be attentive to verbal and non-verbal cues indicating emerging needs? What resources or information might you need to have readily available to respond effectively? What potential challenges do you foresee in identifying and responding appropriately, and how might you prepare for them?
In action
- Are you actively listening not just to the content but also to the tone, non-verbal cues, and underlying emotions of the patient or family? What specific questions are you asking yourself to assess their needs beyond the immediate agenda? Are you noting any verbal or non-verbal indicators of distress, confusion, or a need for further information or support?
- Are you able to identify when a patient’s or family’s needs shift during the consultation? Are your initial attempts to respond to these needs seeming effective? What challenges are you encountering in identifying or responding appropriately? How does this evolving need relate to the original agenda of the consultation?
- Are you adjusting the focus or direction of the consultation based on the emerging needs? Are you considering what resources or referrals might be appropriate?
On action
- During the consultation, what were the key emerging needs that you identified in the patient or family? How did you initially respond to these emerging needs? How effective do you think your responses were in addressing the emerging needs?
- Were there any needs that you missed or found challenging to respond to? What does this experience teach you about being able to attend and address the evolving needs of patients and families in genetic counselling?
- What will you take from the experience moving forward? What strategies will you employ in future consultations to better identify and respond to emerging patient needs? Are there specific communication techniques or resources that could help you in this area?
Beyond action
- Since that consultation, have you become more able to recognise subtle verbal and non-verbal cues indicating patients’ emerging needs in other interactions? Can you recall other instances where you successfully (or unsuccessfully) identified and responded to emerging needs? What did you learn from comparing these experiences? How does your understanding of patient needs relate to the learning outcomes of this module, such as applying counselling skills and practising in accordance with relevant standards?
- Can you think of specific ways you now consciously monitor for and respond to patient needs during consultations? How has this enhanced your confidence in managing the consultations?
- How will you ensure that you maintain a patient-centred approach that prioritises identifying and addressing their evolving needs throughout your career?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 1 |
Outcome
Apply counselling skills within genetic and genomic counselling consultations. |