Utilizing Law Enforcement Interviewing Techniques to Obtain Accurate Diagnostic Information and to Overcome Generational and Cultural Barriers in Rural Patients

This article utilizes a fact-based, fictional scenario to illustrate the importance of obtaining accurate and complete information for patient assessment and treatment. The scenario depicts a rural patient providing false and/or incomplete information to his physician due to cultural and generational factors. A solution emerges based on the use of traditional law enforcement interviewing techniques applied to the clinical setting, allowing physicians to obtain accurate and complete information for diagnosis and patient treatment.