Using patient-centered interviewing skills to manage complex patient encounters in primary care

Purpose: To describe effective and efficient patient-centered interviewing strategies to enhance the management of complex primary care patient encounters. Data sources: Research literature and applied case study analysis. Conclusions: Patient-centered interviewing can enhance effectiveness of care in complex patient encounters. A relatively small investment of time and energy has positive yields in regard to improvements in longer term physiological status, treatment adherence, quality of life, patient-provider working relationship, and patient and nurse practitioner satisfaction. Implications for practice: Use of patient-centered interviewing strategies can enhance effectiveness of patient care processes and outcomes while retaining efficiency of patient management.