COMS 5

Question 1

There are three primary functions of the medical interview:

Answer 1

■ Information gathering
■ Relationship building
■ Patient education

Question 2

One of the three primary functions of the medical interview may predominate in a given interview.

T/F

Answer 2

True, depending upon the nature of the visit; however, all three functions are essential and are dependent upon each other.

Question 3

There are two common approaches to the patient interview ..

Answer 3

the primary care provider-only approach
the team approach.

Question 4

the primary care provider-only approach ..

Answer 4

In this way, the patient is required to relate their medical history only once.

The first interview is conducted by a member of the healthcare team

followed by a subsequent interview conducted by the primary care provider

Question 5

team approach ..

Answer 5

the patient is interviewed more than once. And may result in a more thorough and complete medical record.

Question 6

a second interview is more likely to focus on the ..

Answer 6

chief complaint and other critical information. Although it is more time-consuming.

Question 7

A skillful HCP is adept at guiding and focusing the patient interview.

T/F

Answer 7

True

Question 8

the interview plays an important role in establishing the ..

Answer 8

practitioner–patient relationship, a relationship that is based on mutual concern for the patient’s well-being

Question 9

The practitioner–patient relationship is often an unequal one. How ?

Answer 9

Healthcare professionals are extremely knowledgeable about their area of practice and the patient is dependent upon this expertise.

Question 10

The practitioner–patient relationship is often an unequal one. What to do?

Answer 10

it is helpful for you to equalize the relationship as much as possible.

You should display an attitude of ..
competence
professionalism and
communicate a sense of trust and confidentiality.

Question 11

You can put the patient at ease by ..

Answer 11

showing concern
caring facial expression
honest and genuine demeanor
empathy will decrease the patient’s feelings of anxiety and helplessness

Question 12

the primary source of medical information ?

Answer 12

The patient

Question 13

other sources are necessary to provide the required medical information which are ?

Answer 13

Family members

Question 14

excellent sources of accurate medical information other than the patient are ..

Answer 14

healthcare team members

Question 15

The concept of family interviewing warrants further discussion for several reasons:

Answer 15

Family members frequently accompany patients to the office visits and may serve one or more important roles

Families are the primary context within which most health problems and illnesses occur

The family has a powerful influence on health and illness as most health beliefs and behaviors

Question 16

The presence of family members during the visit may offer many significant benefits during the medical interview.

T/F

Answer 16

True

Question 17

family members may ..

Answer 17

Help communicate the patient’s concerns to the HCP

Improve the HCP’s understanding of the patient’s problem

Improve the patient’s understanding of the diagnosis and treatment

Help the patient to remember clinical information and recommendations

Express concerns regarding the patient

Assist the patient in making decisions

Question 18

When a patient comes to the doctor’s office or to a department in the hospital, they should be escorted to an area that is both ..

Answer 18

private and comfortable, usually the examination room.

Question 19

department in the hospital that is both private and comfortable helps in ..

Answer 19

patient confidentiality is maintained.

Question 20

Information obtained by closely observing the patient, may be helpful in ?

Answer 20

diagnosing the patient or in developing the treatment plan, should then be noted on the medical history form

Question 21

on the telephone, the HCP may find it helpful to imagine that the interviewer and the interviewee are sitting ..

Answer 21

back-to-back

Question 22

On telephone, the practitioner conducting the interview relies on ..

Answer 22

the patient’s tone
pacing of speech
word selection

to interpret their condition and attitude.

Question 23

note that the patient will also draw conclusions regarding the interviewer based on these telephone based interview factors.

Care must be taken to avoid misinterpretation of any kind.

Such ?

Answer 23

cold, aloof, overly formal telephone voice will likely cause the patient to feel put-off or as if they are bothering the medical staff.

Question 24

How to put the patient at ease and make them feel more comfort- able during the course of the interview ?

Answer 24

By warm, welcoming telephone voice

Question 25

On telephone-based interviews, the interview will proceed more smoothly if the HCP concentrates on ..

Answer 25

enunciating, or carefully pronouncing, their words

Question 26

It will be very frustrating for the patient if they are repeatedly asking on telephone-based interviews.

T/F

Answer 26

TRUE

Question 27

There are two types of questions that the HCP will ask the patient during the interview:

Answer 27

closed (direct) questions and open-ended questions.

Question 28

Closed questions are designed to ..

Answer 28

elicit short, focused responses such as a simple yes or no.

These questions actually limit the information sought from the patient

Question 29

Closed questions quickly provide ..

Answer 29

a great deal of objective information about the patient.

Question 30

The HCP will often have only ________ minutes with the patient.

Answer 30

15

Question 31

much important information, both objective and subjective, regarding the current physical and emotional conditions of the patient can be obtained only by ..

Answer 31

open-ended questions. These questions often begin with who, what, where, when, how, and why.

Question 32

open-ended questions cannot be answered simply and require more ..

Answer 32

discussion regarding a given health issue.

Question 33

The use of questions beginning with why should be used with ..

Answer 33

caution.

Question 34

“Why did you do that?”

Results in ..

Answer 34

There may be no one true answer to a why question.

these questions may be perceived as confrontational.

The patient may feel as though they have to defend

this is likely to inhibit further communication and damage the therapeutic relationship

Question 35

It is important for the HCP to know what motivates the patient. Such ?

Answer 35

The HCP will often need to ask the patient about the factors that might influence their ability to follow a certain treatment regimen.

Question 36

Better understanding between the HCP and the patient often leads to ..

Answer 36

enhanced patient compliance and improved health outcomes.

Question 37

The use of leading questions and statements should be ..

Answer 37

avoided.

Question 38

Leading types of questions or statements are likely to prompt or encourage the patient to ..

Answer 38

provide what they perceive is the desired answer.

If the patient does not fully understand the content of the question, they may be compelled to simply go along with the HCP to avoid appearing disagreeable.

Question 39

use of indirect statements. As with open-ended questions, these types of statements help to ..

Answer 39

establish therapeutic communication and relationship

obtains information from the patient without the patient feeling questioned

Question 40

HCP: “What brings you here today?”
Patient: “I have chest pain.”
HCP: “How severe is it?” “When does it occur?” “What do you do to
relieve it?”

is an example of ..

Answer 40

HCP-centered interview where the healthcare provider controls the dialog.

Question 41

The stream of questions in response to the patient’s first complaint may ..

Answer 41

interrupt the patient. Interrupting the patient about the first complaint may prevent the patient from continuing to express

Question 42

HCP: “What brings you here today?”
Patient: “I have chest pain.” HCP: “What else?”
Patient: “I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping.”
HCP: “Anything else?”
Patient: “Well, I have been very worried about my job. I am afraid that I
may be laid off.”

This is an example of ..

Answer 42

the patient-centered interview where the HCP uses “continuers,” expressions that encourage the patient to reveal all of their concerns at the beginning of the interview.

Question 43

In patient-centered interview The HCP allows the patient to tell their story and guides the patient to provide the important details by using ..

Answer 43

both open-ended questions and indirect statements as well as specific closed questions. This approach provides the best information.

Question 44

The use of continuers also contributes to ..

Answer 44

The development of a relationship between the HCP and their patient

For example, the HCP may offer an expression of empathy and concern such as “You seem very worried”

Question 45

The use of continuers also contributes additionally to ..

Answer 45

acknowledge the patient’s feelings and encourages the patient to reveal more information.

Question 46

the patient-centered approach allows the HCP to ..

Answer 46

be more attentive to the nonverbal messages expressed by the patient.

Question 47

the American Academy on Physician and Patient suggests the use of “PEARLS” during the patient-centered interview. Why ?

Answer 47

it contributes to the relationship-building aspect of the medical interview.

Question 48

“PEARLS” ..

Answer 48

Partnership

Legitimization

Support

Apology

Respect

Empathy

Question 49

Partnership:

Answer 49

conveys that the HCP and the patient are in this together.

Question 50

Empathy ..

Answer 50

expresses understanding and concern for the patient

Question 51

Apology:

Answer 51

acknowledges that the HCP is sorry that the patient had to wait, that the procedure was painful, that the lab tests will take sev- eral days to process, and so on

Question 52

Respect:

Answer 52

acknowledges the patient’s suffering, anxiety, fear, and so on

Question 53

Legitimization:

Answer 53

acknowledges that the patient may be angry, frustrated,
depressed, and so on

Question 54

Support:

Answer 54

conveys that the HCP will be there for the patient and not
abandon them

Question 55

Call the patient by name.

Answer 55

This will not only verify that you are interviewing the intended patient, but it will also begin to establish a connection.

other words, use “Mr.,” “Mrs.,” or “Ms.”

Question 56

First names should be used
only with the patient’s permission.

T/F

Answer 56

True