A critical look at ideas, concerns and expectations in clinical communication

For medical students and doctors, capturing the patient's perspective is critical if the consultation is to be meaningful for both parties. Medical students are taught the import of this in their communication skills training aided by inquiring into the patient's ideas, concerns and expectations (ICE) during the consultation. Ensuring the effectiveness of those inquiries can be a challenge for different reasons. Yet apart from a handful of papers on the subject, there is little guidance on the efficacy of ICE as a communication technique and specifically how to successfully blend questions about ICE within the interaction between doctor and patient.

This paper takes a closer look at this communication technique and explores some of the interactional features of inquiries into ICE. First, the background to ICE and its emergence within the field of medical education is considered. Next the argument considers some of the contextual and pedagogical issues that inquiries into ICE gives rise to. The discussion then goes on to explore some conceptual underpinnings drawing on findings from Conversation Analysis, which provide some direction in approaching questions about what the patient thinks. Finally, the implications of the argument presented are considered in relation to the teaching and assessment of medical students with a short proposal for next steps.

Capturing the patient's perspective through an exploration of their ideas, concerns and expectations remains a valuable approach in communication skills training in medical education. It is important, however, that ICE type inquiries are used carefully and responsively if they are to be used to improve communication with patients.