Active listening

Active listening results in patients feeling heard and valued, which enhances the therapeutic relationship between the healthcare provider and patient. To practise active listening, healthcare providers must:

• focus on the person in front of them and not be distracted by other thoughts or the surrounding environment
• provide few encouragers (eg nod, ‘uh-huh’, smile) to demonstrate that they are listening to what is being said
• provide periodic feedback to check the accuracy of their understanding (eg ‘so what I’m hearing is …’).