Patient Interviews

Patient Interviews

Each student will conduct an interview on his/her own time and write up the interview answering the four questions that are listed below. The interview should be of a family member, friend, or acquaintance (or their relative/caregiver) who has been ill and involved with the medical community. Should a student not be able to contact such an individual, there will be a list of “volunteers” who meet the criteria. Please contact the Psychiatry Education Office for assistance in making these arrangements..

Please provide a narrative of approximately three to eight pages (typed and double-spaced) which addresses the following questions:

1. What is this person’s story? Elaborate on his/her feelings, motivations, thoughts, beliefs, reactions, and behaviors as s/he went through the experience with the illness.

2.Thinking about the individual on a developmental continuum or life course, where is s/he and how might his/her developmental position have affected the illness experience? How might the illness experience have altered his/her developmental course?

3. What was the impact of the environment (family, friends, community) on the person’s illness experience? What was the impact of the illness on the person’s environment?

4. What was your reaction to the interview? What did you learn from this patient story?

Guidelines for Conducting the Interview

Begin with an orienting statement, which states the purpose of the interview. The purpose is essentially to learn from the individual his/her experience with illness and/or the medical community. Experience refers not only to the facts, but how the individual feels about what they went through.

Obtain basic data and identifying information: Who is this person? For example, ask about identifying data, work, family and relationships, living situation, religion, ethnic background, etc.

Elicit the story of the illness: How did the person know he/she was ill? What steps did he/she take before being diagnosed? What happened after the person was diagnosed?

Expand the story of the illness: What was it like for this person? What is this person’s coping style?

What impact did this illness have on the patient’s environment (work, family, and friends)? What impact did the environment have on the illness?

How did the person’s stage in life impact their reaction to the illness and the health care recommendations? Did the illness impact on their developmental course (i.e. move them forward prematurely or cause delays in maturity) or might it in the future?

Ask about the person’s relationship with his/her healthcare providers. Was there anything that was particularly helpful? Was there anything that was not particularly helpful?

Tips: Do not assume you know what something means. Ask the patient. Do not assume the illness experience is negative. It may be positive or neutral.

Saundra Stock, M.D. and Deborah Roth, D.O.

University of South Florida