We all learn a little differently. By tailoring your communication style to your patients' learning styles, you'll improve understanding, outcomes, and risk management.
Posted in Articles on Thursday, February 20, 2025
Chiropractic physicians are no strangers to the importance of education—both in your own continuous learning and in how you communicate with patients, not to mention all the years of schooling it took to become a doctor. Every patient interaction is an opportunity to educate, whether it’s explaining a diagnosis, the care plan, or the benefits of chiropractic care. But not all patients learn the same way. Understanding learning styles can not only improve patient compliance and outcomes but also play a key role in reducing risk for your practice.
What Are Learning Styles?
Learning styles refer to the preferred way that people process and retain information. One of the most commonly used frameworks identifies three primary learning styles:
- Visual Learners – People who learn best through images, charts, diagrams, videos, and written instructions.
- Auditory Learners – Those who prefer to absorb information through listening, such as verbal explanations or discussions.
- Kinesthetic Learners – Individuals who thrive on hands-on experiences and physical engagement to grasp concepts.
Recognizing and catering to these styles in your practice can enhance your ability to communicate effectively with patients and staff.
Learning Styles in the Chiropractic Practice
In the clinical setting, adapting your communication style to the patient’s learning preferences can have profound benefits. For example:
- Visual Learners may appreciate visual aids, such as spine models, x-rays, diagrams of the spine, or videos demonstrating exercises.
- Auditory Learners might prefer a thorough verbal explanation of their diagnosis or treatment plan. It is important to remember to use layman terms that are easily understandable to the average patient.
- Kinesthetic Learners are likely to engage more with demonstrations of exercises, hands-on education about body mechanics, or activities that include touching models of parts of a skeleton.
When patients truly understand their care plans, they are more likely to adhere to them. This improved compliance not only enhances outcomes but also reduces the risk of miscommunication or non-compliance that could lead to adverse events or liability issues. And it may even increase the chances that patients will speak enthusiastically about their care to friends and family, leading to possible referrals.
The Connection to Risk Management
Risk management in a chiropractic practice involves not just clinical skills but also how well we manage expectations and educate our patients. Miscommunication or lack of understanding often underpins patient dissatisfaction and complaints, which can escalate into malpractice claims. Incorporating learning styles into patient education provides many benefits.
Informed Consent Improves
Patients who understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment are less likely to feel blindsided by unexpected or unfavorable outcomes. Tailoring your explanations to their learning style ensures that they fully grasp the information.
Documentation Becomes Stronger
When patients are educated in a way that resonates with them, their compliance with treatment plans improves, and you have clear records of your efforts to educate them.
Adverse Events Are Reduced
Patients who understand their role in recovery—such as adhering to prescribed exercises—are less likely to experience setbacks, reducing risk to your practice.
Practical Tips for Incorporating Learning Styles
- Assess Learning Preferences: During initial consultations, ask open-ended questions to identify how patients prefer to learn. For example, “Would you like me to explain this verbally, or would you prefer to see a diagram?”
- Diversify Educational Materials: Keep visual aids, written brochures, demonstration tools, and verbal scripts on hand to accommodate different styles.
- Train Your Team: Ensure your staff is aware of these principles and capable of adjusting their approach to meet the needs of different patients.
Addressing Learning Styles is a Win-Win
Understanding and addressing learning styles isn’t just a tool for better patient engagement—it’s a vital part of risk management in your chiropractic practice. By fostering clearer communication and improving patient education, you enhance outcomes, build trust, increase satisfaction, and protect your practice from avoidable risks. After all, the more effectively we educate our patients, the better equipped they are to partner with us in their care, creating a win-win scenario for everyone involved.
Dr. Gwilliam is the Senior Vice President of Practisync, which helps practices improve efficiency and collect more through outsourced expert billing services. He is considered, by some, to be an excellent teacher at his many presentations and seminars, where he intentionally employs all three of these learning styles to help his audience to engage. You can reach out to Dr. Gwilliam at evan.gwilliam@practisync.com.