Part of the fun of primary care is talking with patients about health issues, and my responsibility is to keep up with current literature. Sometimes I'm surprised by how my patients react to what I said (or didn't say?), and I have to remind myself that someone else probably said something that set their expectations a certain way.
I'll ask something like, "Oh, what helped you think about it in that way?", or my personal favorite, "What's the question behind the question?". Sometimes I'm lucky and there's a straightforward response; often it takes a little more digging. Humans are formed by the people they are in relationship with, so it helps me to know the people and narratives behind the original inquiry.
Ultimately, I know that my contribution to my patients' well-being is just one portion in relation to the rest of the people in their lives. It helps me and my patients to be mindful of all the participants in the conversation - whether they're in the exam room or not!
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