AIDET Patient Communication

What is AIDET^®?

AIDET^® is a communication framework for healthcare professionals to communicate with patients and each other in a way that decreases patient anxiety, increases patient compliance, and improves clinical outcomes. The acronym AIDET^® stands for five communication behaviors: Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank You.

AIDET^® Works in All Departments and Disciplines

Created by Studer Group as a foundational tactic for effective patient communication, AIDET is used by nurses, physicians, technicians, EVS, food service, administrators, and all staff involved in patient and family encounters at the bedside and across the continuum of care.

While keywords are important in AIDET, it is not a script. It's a simple, consistent way to incorporate fundamental patient communication elements into every patient or customer interaction. Below is an example of how to frame communication using this powerful tool:

• A

  Acknowledge:

  Greet the patient by name. Make eye contact, smile, and acknowledge family or friends in the room.

• I

  Introduce:

  Introduce yourself with your name, skill set, professional certification, and experience.

• D

  Duration:

  Give an accurate time expectation for tests, physician arrival, and identify next steps. When this is not possible, give a time in which you will update the patient on progress.

• E

  Explanation:

  Explain step-by-step what to expect next, answer questions, and let the patient know how to contact you, such as a nurse call button.

• T

  Thank You:

  Thank the patient and/or family. You might express gratitude to them for choosing your hospital or for their communication and cooperation. Thank family members for being there to support the patient.

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