Doctor and patient: General principles of history taking
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Course
Nursing
Institution
Nursing
1. Which of the following techniques is most effective in establishing rapport with a patient during the initial history taking?
• A. Closed-ended questions
• B. Medical jargon
• C. Open-ended questions
• D. Interrupting to clarify early on
Answer: C. Open-ended questions Rationale: Op...
1. Which of the following techniques is most effective in establishing rapport with
a patient during the initial history taking?
• A. Closed-ended questions
• B. Medical jargon
• C. Open-ended questions
• D. Interrupting to clarify early on
Answer: C. Open-ended questions Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage the patient to
express their thoughts freely, allowing the healthcare provider to gather more comprehensive
information. Closed-ended questions can limit the patient's responses, and interrupting too early
can disrupt rapport-building.
2. When taking a patient’s history, which of the following is the most appropriate
initial approach?
• A. Begin by asking about the patient's medical conditions.
• B. Ask about the reason for their current visit.
• C. Start with their family medical history.
• D. Inquire about their insurance information.
Answer: B. Ask about the reason for their current visit. Rationale: The initial focus should
be on the patient’s chief complaint, as this guides the direction of the interview and helps
identify the patient's current health concerns.
3. During history taking, which technique helps in clarifying unclear statements
from the patient?
• A. Paraphrasing
• B. Summarizing
• C. Reflection
• D. Confrontation
Answer: A. Paraphrasing Rationale: Paraphrasing helps ensure the nurse understands the
patient correctly by restating the information in their own words. This allows the patient to
confirm or correct the information.
,4. Which of the following should be avoided when communicating with a patient?
• A. Maintaining eye contact
• B. Using leading questions
• C. Offering reassurance
• D. Active listening
Answer: B. Using leading questions Rationale: Leading questions may bias the patient’s
responses. The goal is to obtain accurate, unbiased information. Active listening and non-verbal
communication such as eye contact are crucial in patient-centered communication.
5. What is the best action for the nurse if a patient hesitates to answer a question
during history taking?
• A. Move on to the next question
• B. Repeat the question more slowly
• C. Allow silence and wait for the patient to respond
• D. Encourage the patient to answer quickly
Answer: C. Allow silence and wait for the patient to respond Rationale: Silence allows
patients time to think and reflect. This approach shows respect and allows patients to feel more
comfortable sharing their thoughts.
6. Which of the following elements is considered part of the "history of present
illness" (HPI)?
• A. Allergies
• B. Past medical history
• C. Medications
• D. Location, duration, and intensity of symptoms
Answer: D. Location, duration, and intensity of symptoms Rationale: The HPI focuses on
the current symptoms and their characteristics. It includes information about the onset, location,
duration, and intensity of the symptoms, providing essential information about the patient's
current health status.
7. In the context of history taking, what is the primary purpose of using active
listening techniques?
, • A. To increase the speed of data collection
• B. To ensure the nurse controls the conversation
• C. To facilitate the patient’s sharing of detailed information
• D. To quickly identify the patient's diagnosis
Answer: C. To facilitate the patient’s sharing of detailed information Rationale: Active
listening encourages patients to share more information and feel understood. This technique
helps in building trust and ensuring that the nurse gathers thorough information.
8. Which of the following is a key principle in taking a pediatric history?
• A. Focus primarily on the parent's concerns.
• B. Avoid asking the child any questions directly.
• C. Use age-appropriate language and questions for the child.
• D. Take a brief history to avoid overwhelming the parent.
Answer: C. Use age-appropriate language and questions for the child. Rationale: When
taking a pediatric history, it is important to involve the child by using language they can
understand. This empowers the child and helps gather information from both the parent and
child’s perspectives.
9. Which of the following is an example of a closed-ended question?
• A. "What brings you in today?"
• B. "Can you describe the pain you are experiencing?"
• C. "Do you smoke?"
• D. "Tell me more about your symptoms."
Answer: C. "Do you smoke?" Rationale: Closed-ended questions can be answered with a
simple "yes" or "no." They are useful for clarifying specific points but do not encourage detailed
responses like open-ended questions.
10. Which of the following approaches is most appropriate when a patient
provides vague answers during history taking?
• A. Ask multiple questions rapidly.
• B. Use clarifying questions to obtain more specific details.
• C. Assume the answers are sufficient and move on.
• D. End the interview to avoid patient discomfort.
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