What term describes the repetition of a word or phrase used by a patient to encourage more detail?

What term describes the repetition of a word or phrase used by a patient to encourage more detail?

• A. Reflection
• B. Clarification
• C. Confrontation
• D. Relieve stress

Answer: (A)

Reflection involves echoing or restating a patient’s words, sometimes pairing them with a touch of emotion, to show you’re listening and to invite the patient to elaborate. By repeating a key word or phrase they’ve used, you create a safe space for them to expand on their thoughts and provide more detail without feeling judged. This technique differs from clarification, which is used to make the meaning clear and accurate rather than to prompt deeper sharing; confrontation, on the other hand, challenges or disputes what the patient says, which can shut down conversation; and relieving stress is not a defined communication technique for eliciting details. So repeating the patient’s words to encourage more detail is best described as reflection.

Reflection involves echoing or restating a patient’s words, sometimes pairing them with a touch of emotion, to show you’re listening and to invite the patient to elaborate. By repeating a key word or phrase they’ve used, you create a safe space for them to expand on their thoughts and provide more detail without feeling judged. This technique differs from clarification, which is used to make the meaning clear and accurate rather than to prompt deeper sharing; confrontation, on the other hand, challenges or disputes what the patient says, which can shut down conversation; and relieving stress is not a defined communication technique for eliciting details. So repeating the patient’s words to encourage more detail is best described as reflection.