The basics
Teach-Back 101
Teach-Back is how you check whether your explanation actually landed. It is not a quiz, and it's not about the patient. It's about you double-checking your own teaching. Done well, it improves safety, medication adherence, and outcomes — without making anyone feel tested.
Why it matters
Patients forget 40–80% of what we tell them, and about half of what's remembered is remembered wrong. Teach-Back closes the loop — without making the patient feel like they're back in school.
The four moves
Plain language
Use kitchen-table words. "High blood pressure" not "hypertension." If a 12-year-old wouldn't get it, swap it.
Chunk and check
One idea, one quick check, then the next idea. Three concepts max before pausing.
Empathy first
Name the worry before the instructions. "That dizziness concern makes total sense — let's talk about that."
Non-quizzy framing
Put the responsibility on you, not them. "Just to make sure I explained this clearly — how would you describe this at home?"