Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination 9th
Edition Ball Test Bank Chapters 1-26 | Complete
Q&A with Rationales
Chapter 01: The History and Interviewing Process
Question 1
Which question would be considered a "leading question"?
A. "Please describe any associated symptoms with your headaches?"
B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
C. "What activities affect the severity of your headaches?"
D. "What times of the day are your headaches the most severe?"
Answer: B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests or implies a desired answer and can bias the
patient's response. "You don't get headaches often, do you?" presumes the patient does
not have frequent headaches and limits the information in the patient's answer . Open-
ended questions like the other options allow patients more discretion about the extent of
their answers and do not direct them toward a particular response.
,Question 2
Which action would best promote accurate translations as well as confidentiality when
the caregiver does not speak the patient's language?
A. Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
B. Have a friend of the patient translate
C. Ask simple leading questions that the patient may understand
D. Use a neighbor as translator
Answer: A. Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters or strangers to the patient are preferred for
translation because family members or friends may pose communication barriers and may
have issues of confidentiality . A neutral, unfamiliar interpreter is less biased and
maintains privacy. The clinician should speak directly to the patient, not to the interpreter,
to maintain respect and rapport .
Question 3
Periods of silence during the interview can serve important purposes, such as:
A. Allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation
B. Giving the clinician a clue that they should speed up the interview
C. Providing time for reflection
D. Promoting a calm environment
Answer: C. Providing time for reflection
,Rationale: Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion . It is not a time to document in the
chart, but rather to focus on the patient. Periods of silence may cause anxiety rather than
promote calm, and they indicate the clinician should go slower and not push too hard .
Question 4
Which technique is most likely to result in the patient's understanding of questions?
A. Use phrases that are commonly used by other patients in the area
B. Use language that keeps the patient from being expansive in their answer
C. Be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding
D. Use proper medical and technical terminology
Answer: C. Be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of
understanding
Rationale: To ensure that questions have been correctly understood, the clinician should
be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding . Using
proper medical terminology may confuse patients who are not familiar with healthcare
language. The goal is to communicate effectively in a way the patient can easily grasp.
Question 5
A patient becomes restless during the history and says, "I don't have time for all of this."
Which response is most appropriate?
A. "I understand you're busy, but this information is important for your care."
B. "We can skip the rest of the history if you prefer."
C. "Let's reschedule for another day when you have more time."
D. "I'll just ask the most important questions."
, Answer: A. "I understand you're busy, but this information is important for your
care."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings while explaining the importance of the
history demonstrates empathy and maintains the therapeutic relationship. Skipping the
history, rescheduling, or rushing through questions would compromise the quality of care
and may miss critical information.
Question 6
When collecting history from older children or adolescents, they should be:
A. Never interviewed alone because this may alienate the parent
B. Mailed a questionnaire in advance to avoid the need for them to talk
C. Given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some point
D. Ignored while all questions are addressed to the parent
Answer: C. Given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some
point
Rationale: An older child should be given the opportunity to give information directly.
This enhances the probability that the child will follow the provider's advice . Adolescents
are typically reluctant to talk, so the provider should clearly communicate respect for their
confidentiality .
Question 7
When you suspect that your 81-year-old patient has short-term memory loss because
he cannot remember what he had for breakfast, you should:
Edition Ball Test Bank Chapters 1-26 | Complete
Q&A with Rationales
Chapter 01: The History and Interviewing Process
Question 1
Which question would be considered a "leading question"?
A. "Please describe any associated symptoms with your headaches?"
B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
C. "What activities affect the severity of your headaches?"
D. "What times of the day are your headaches the most severe?"
Answer: B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests or implies a desired answer and can bias the
patient's response. "You don't get headaches often, do you?" presumes the patient does
not have frequent headaches and limits the information in the patient's answer . Open-
ended questions like the other options allow patients more discretion about the extent of
their answers and do not direct them toward a particular response.
,Question 2
Which action would best promote accurate translations as well as confidentiality when
the caregiver does not speak the patient's language?
A. Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
B. Have a friend of the patient translate
C. Ask simple leading questions that the patient may understand
D. Use a neighbor as translator
Answer: A. Ask a person unfamiliar with the patient to translate
Rationale: Professional medical interpreters or strangers to the patient are preferred for
translation because family members or friends may pose communication barriers and may
have issues of confidentiality . A neutral, unfamiliar interpreter is less biased and
maintains privacy. The clinician should speak directly to the patient, not to the interpreter,
to maintain respect and rapport .
Question 3
Periods of silence during the interview can serve important purposes, such as:
A. Allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation
B. Giving the clinician a clue that they should speed up the interview
C. Providing time for reflection
D. Promoting a calm environment
Answer: C. Providing time for reflection
,Rationale: Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion . It is not a time to document in the
chart, but rather to focus on the patient. Periods of silence may cause anxiety rather than
promote calm, and they indicate the clinician should go slower and not push too hard .
Question 4
Which technique is most likely to result in the patient's understanding of questions?
A. Use phrases that are commonly used by other patients in the area
B. Use language that keeps the patient from being expansive in their answer
C. Be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding
D. Use proper medical and technical terminology
Answer: C. Be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of
understanding
Rationale: To ensure that questions have been correctly understood, the clinician should
be clear and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding . Using
proper medical terminology may confuse patients who are not familiar with healthcare
language. The goal is to communicate effectively in a way the patient can easily grasp.
Question 5
A patient becomes restless during the history and says, "I don't have time for all of this."
Which response is most appropriate?
A. "I understand you're busy, but this information is important for your care."
B. "We can skip the rest of the history if you prefer."
C. "Let's reschedule for another day when you have more time."
D. "I'll just ask the most important questions."
, Answer: A. "I understand you're busy, but this information is important for your
care."
Rationale: Acknowledging the patient's feelings while explaining the importance of the
history demonstrates empathy and maintains the therapeutic relationship. Skipping the
history, rescheduling, or rushing through questions would compromise the quality of care
and may miss critical information.
Question 6
When collecting history from older children or adolescents, they should be:
A. Never interviewed alone because this may alienate the parent
B. Mailed a questionnaire in advance to avoid the need for them to talk
C. Given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some point
D. Ignored while all questions are addressed to the parent
Answer: C. Given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some
point
Rationale: An older child should be given the opportunity to give information directly.
This enhances the probability that the child will follow the provider's advice . Adolescents
are typically reluctant to talk, so the provider should clearly communicate respect for their
confidentiality .
Question 7
When you suspect that your 81-year-old patient has short-term memory loss because
he cannot remember what he had for breakfast, you should:
