It may seem like an easy conversation, but talking with patients about nutrition isn’t always straightforward. There are a number of reasons for that. Multiple articles have been written in the past five years explaining that doctors don’t receive adequate training in nutrition during medical school, which leads them to avoid the conversation when meeting with patients.
That’s not the only reason, though. Sometimes, discussing nutrition with patients is difficult because it can be so personal to the patient. Many times, patients are embarrassed or ashamed about their eating habits or weight, adding an extra level of tension in the doctor-patient relationship.
The hard conversations, however, are something doctors are trained to handle, and effective communication about nutrition is important for patients to hear. These are some practical tips for ways to discuss nutrition with patients while overcoming some of the hesitancy in having the conversation.
Patients need support when discussing nutrition
In the world of sales, there’s a concept called “Feel, Felt, Found.” In essence, it’s a way for sales people to empathize with customers and gain trust. The same concept can be applied to medicine. When a doctor knows it’s time to discuss nutrition with patients, the best way to start is by creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment. The conversations can, and should, begin with empathy. Make the patient feel at ease by explaining that nutrition is one of the most talked-about issues in healthcare today. Next, always make sure your patients know it’s your only goal to support and help them.
Doing these things builds trust and rapport, which is the most important part of the doctor-patient relationship. Patients who trust doctors are more likely to accept suggestions about nutrition, and that’s always the best place to start.
Frame the discussion on nutrition
When introducing the topic of nutrition, it’s important to frame the conversation in a way that focuses on overall health and well-being rather than just weight or appearance. Patients who don’t have healthy eating habits and struggle with weight don’t need reminding that they should address the issue. In fact, carrying the burden of obesity can cause it’s own mental health issues.
In order to have a valuable conversation with patients about improved nutrition, it’s important to frame the conversation to focus on the link between nutrition and better health. Doctors can talk about better energy levels, mood changes, and chronic disease prevention. By taking this approach, patients can get away from focusing on shame or guilt and turn their attention to positive motivation for making healthy changes.
Use open-ended questions
Rarely will “yes” or “no” questions lead to good conversations, so doctors who know they need to discuss nutrition with patients should work hard to ask open-ended questions. Rather than asking patients if they feel like they should eat better, try asking: “What are your typical eating habits?” Even better than just focusing on food intake, a great question might be asking patients about the challenges they face to eating healthy.
One of the biggest challenges with a good diet is the expense. By focusing on questions that allow the patient to share, doctors can find opportunities to discuss affordable ways to eat healthier. The best conversations are ones that allow both the patient and doctor to talk freely, and rarely can those conversations happen with “yes” or “no” questions.
Provide practical nutrition guidance to patients
When doctors have a patient who smokes, some of the worst advice is just telling the patient to quit. The same is true for patients who may struggle with a healthy diet. The helpful answer is never: “Just start eating better.”
There are all sorts of resources for doctors to help give achievable, practical guidance to patients to need to improve their diets. Key to that guidance is helping patients focus on making small changes that can last. Maybe it’s as simple as adding an apple each day or taking a nutritional supplement that will improve blood flow. What’s important for doctors is that their patients don’t feel overwhelmed with health advice when they leave the office. Instead, end the conversation with easy-to-accomplish goals.
While it can be difficult, doctors need to discuss nutrition with patients – especially those patients who will see valuable benefits to a better diet. To do this, always start by building trust with the patient by offering support and make sure the patient knows the conversation is focused on better health rather than appearance. Get your patients talking with good, open-ended questions, and don’t let them leave the office without giving them tangible and repeatable solutions that can begin to improve their overall health.
