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Guideline 4: Patient privacy & confidentiality

12 out of 14
Title

Specific strategies

Create opportunities to speak with patients privately to discuss any sensitive issues they may feel uncomfortable discussing in front of their family

  • Patients may feel unable to share or enquire about sensitive information (e.g. sexuality, fertility, mental health, prognosis) when their family are present. 8,38
  • When a private opportunity arises, check in with patients about what issues they find sensitive and don’t want discussed in the presence of the carer.

To discuss sensitive issues with a patient privately, clinicians can either:

  • Openly request a time to discuss personal matters with the patient alone.
Click for example wording

“As a standard part of the consultation, I like to speak with patients alone for a few minutes. This is not to exclude the family, but sometimes there is sensitive information such as bowel and bladder function, that is better discussed between the two of us. Would you mind taking a seat outside for a minute and I’ll come back and get you shortly”.

 

  • Use (or create) opportunities such as a physical examination, usually done without the family carer present, to speak privately with the patient about sensitive issues. 25,32
Click for example wording

“I’ll need to do a physical examination of [patient] now, [family carer] would you mind taking a seat outside the room for a few minutes and I’ll come and get you when we’ve finished”

 

OVERALL COMPLETION

Guideline 4

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