17 Therapeutic Communications

Question 1

Which type of communication facilitates improved patient care, prevents escalation of potentially violent situations, and reduces the risk of litigation?
A.
Telecommunication
C.
Therapeutic communication
B.
Field communication
D.
Patient communication

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Communication includes which element?
A.
Verbal communications only
B.
Verbal and nonverbal communications
C.
Verbal and nonverbal communications and symbols
D.
Verbal and nonverbal communications, symbols, and biases

Answer 2

C

Question 3

As a rule, a receiver is more likely to understand a message if it is:
A.
Detailed
B.
Communicated in multiple ways or formats
C.
Devoid of nonverbal communications
D.
Medically oriented

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What is the act of interpreting symbols and format?
A.
Demessaging
C.
Encoding
B.
Decoding
D.
Enmessaging

Answer 4

B

Question 5

To avoid misunderstanding, which technique should be used?
A.
Use more words and longer sentences.
C.
Use technical jargon or notations.
B.
Avoid using examples.
D.
Avoid vague phrases.

Answer 5

D

Question 6

Viewing the world from another inner frame or reference point while remaining oneself is known as which type of communication?
A.
Interpersonal reference
C.
Empathy
B.
Introverted thinking
D.
Sympathy

Answer 6

C

Question 7

Expressing one’s own feelings about another person’s predicament is known as which type of communication?
A.
Interpersonal reference
C.
Empathy
B.
Introverted thinking
D.
Sympathy

Answer 7

D

Question 8

The last sensation thought to be lost with unconsciousness and the first to be regained with consciousness is which sense?
A.
Smell
C.
Hearing
B.
Sight
D.
Pain

Answer 8

C

Question 9

Placing a message in an understandable format (either written or verbal) is known as which type of coding?
A.
Encoding
C.
Recoding
B.
Decoding
D.
Label coding

Answer 9

A

Question 10

Information sent or expressed by the sender that may include verbal or nonverbal symbols is called which type of communication?
A.
Feedback
C.
Message
B.
Language
D.
Source

Answer 10

C

Question 11

To facilitate the communication process, a paramedic should used which technique?
A.
Face patients while they are speaking.
B.
Avoid natural eye contact; many patients find eye contact to be too personal.
C.
Cross arms and legs to signify attention to patients.
D.
Move hands and feet frequently to show patients that he or she is attentive.

Answer 11

A

Question 12

To be a good, active listener, a paramedic should apply which tactic?
A.
Interrupt frequently to clarify details.
B.
Begin preparing a response while the patient is still speaking.
C.
Make sure that his or her language matches that of the patient.
D.
Summarize what the patient has said before replying.

Answer 12

D

Question 13

A patient’s “private space” is:
A.
10 inches from the patient’s face
B.
Determined by the paramedic
C.
Culturally defined
D.
Not a significant factor when interviewing a patient

Answer 13

C

Question 14

A paramedic who is skilled and thorough in interviewing patients will always implement which method?
A.
Complete the interview in less than 10 minutes.
B.
Obtain a patient history from the family because most patients cannot reliably report their medical history.
C.
Use medical terminology to ensure that the patient understands the depth of the paramedic’s knowledge base.
D.
View each patient as a unique individual with his or her own set of needs and concerns.

Answer 14

D

Question 15

When should small gestures of compassion such as holding a patient’s hand or squeezing the shoulders be implemented?
A.
Always appropriate
B.
Appropriate if the paramedic is the same sex as the patient
C.
Never appropriate
D.
Appropriate in some circumstances

Answer 15

D

Question 16

An open-ended question:
A.
Can easily be answered with a “yes” or “no”
B.
Is asked in a narrative form and encourages the patient to talk
C.
Guides the patient to give the answer that the paramedic is looking for
D.
Allows the paramedic to ask more questions in a shorter period

Answer 16

B

Question 17

Which of the following is an open-ended question?
A.
“Did the pain begin today?”
B.
“How long have you been having pain?”
C.
“Where is the pain centered?”
D.
“Can you describe the pain to me?”

Answer 17

D

Question 18

A patient who does not want to provide the paramedic with any personal information because he or she is afraid of rejection or ridicule is using which technique?
A.
Distraction
C.
Coercion
B.
Resistance
D.
Falsification

Answer 18

B

Question 19

Which communication technique is used when the paramedic must help the patient identify irrational thoughts or behavior, particularly if the patient is “acting out”?
A.
Distraction
C.
Coercion
B.
Resistance
D.
Falsification

Answer 19

A

Question 20

One technique for interviewing a hostile patient is:
A.
Setting limits and boundaries with the patient
B.
Talking to the patient while facing in another direction
C.
Threatening to start an IV if the patient does not cooperate
D.
Leaving the patient alone to become calmer

Answer 20

A

Question 21

A paramedic can facilitate a response from a patient by using which method?
A.
Silence, allowing the patient to think and answer the questions
B.
An interrogative approach
C.
A negative approach that prompts the patient to answer the questions truthfully
D.
A family member to ask all questions, making the patient feel more at ease

Answer 21

A

Question 22

The communication technique that can end in a “trap” involves which aspect?
A.
Asking open-ended questions
B.
Using common words and phrases that can be clearly understood
C.
Frequently interrupting the patient
D.
Showing empathy for the patient

Answer 22

C

Question 23

To help a patient disclose sensitive information, the paramedic should apply which approach?
A.
Proceed quickly to finish this part of the interview as soon as possible.
B.
Apologize for asking sensitive questions.
C.
Use medical terminology to avoid embarrassing common words.
D.
Be direct and firm with questions.

Answer 23

D

Question 24

Shifting focus is a technique used by:
A.
Paramedics to ask about a sensitive problem in an indirect way
B.
Patients to avoid disclosing sensitive information
C.
Paramedics to keep the patient focused
D.
Patients to divert attention away from their problems

Answer 24

A

Question 25

Normal conversation with a patient should demonstrate which feature?
A.
The patient’s IQ
B.
The patient’s ability to think clearly
C.
Whether the patient graduated from high school
D.
Whether the patient is at risk for a thinking disorder

Answer 25

B

Question 26

A paramedic dealing with a patient who is acting out should apply which approach?
A.
Raise his or her voice to match the level of the patient’s voice.
B.
Avoid having the patient discuss the cause of anger.
C.
Restate the cause of anger.
D.
Refrain from offering empathy until the patient is calm.

Answer 26

C

Question 27

The paramedic encounters a patient who is unmotivated to talk. The paramedic may need to get the information by which approach?
A.
By questioning the family members or others at the scene
B.
After the patient has been given a lecture regarding the importance of answering the questions
C.
By being forceful and demanding of the patient
D.
By threatening to start an IV if the patient does not answer the questions

Answer 27

A

Question 28

What signs may a patient display before getting violent?
A.
Refusing to get out of a chair
C.
Having a very red complexion
B.
Just staring off into space
D.
Raising his or her voice

Answer 28

D

Question 29

You are called to the home of a 60-year-old male who is complaining of chest pain. His wife tells you that the patient is very hard of hearing. Which technique is the best way for you to communicate with this patient?
A.
Talk very loudly.
B.
Face the patient squarely in good lighting to ensure that the patient can see your face and lips.
C.
Talk rapidly and loudly.
D.
Wait for an interpreter skilled in sign language.

Answer 29

B

Question 30

You are on the scene of a motor vehicle crash and you are told that the occupants of one of the cars are Native Americans. While talking to the patients, you notice that they will not look you directly in the eye. What is likely occurring?
A.
A cultural difference expressed by these patients
B.
Signs of a severe head injury in all of these patients
C.
An indication that these patients have taken a distinct dislike to you
D.
A sign of embarrassment

Answer 30

A

Question 31

A patient smiles when a paramedic tells her that she will be receiving medication to ease her pain. Which type of communication is being used?
A.
Encoding
C.
Feedback
B.
Decoding
D.
Source

Answer 31

C