DIALOG is a simple tool for assessing patient satisfaction with life and treatment. Used by health professionals with their patients, DIALOG is a quick and effective way to monitor 11 key life topics, and identify areas in need of improvement. A guide informed by Solution Focused Therapy is available to help address these problematic areas using a step-by-step approach.
• How DIALOG works
DIALOG asks for ratings of satisfaction on a 1 – 7 scale with:
- mental health
- physical health
- job situation
- accommodation
- leisure activities
- relationship with partner/family
- friendships
- personal safety
- medication
- practical help received
- meetings with mental health professionals.
• Customising DIALOG
DIALOG can ask ‘Do you need more help in this area?’ for each topic, and enable ratings from today’s session to be compared with any previous session.
‘DIALOG+’ – adds a therapeutic approach to the above for addressing areas in need of improvement. Topics can be selected for further consideration using a solution-focussed 4-step approach to problems. These steps are (i) understanding, (ii) looking forward, (iii) exploring options and (iv) agreeing on action. Specific action items can be recorded and reviewed later.
• Why use DIALOG?
Research demonstrates that using DIALOG routinely in the clinical setting can improve patients’ satisfaction with life and treatment, and reduce their number of unmet needs.
Priebe, S. et al. Structured patient-clinician communication and 1-year outcome in community mental healthcare: cluster randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry, 191, 420-6.
If you are a mental health professional seeking a new way to structure communication with your patients, DIALOG provides a simple solution.
Download for free today.