2026 STUDY & PRACTICE GUIDE
100 Original Questions with Best Answers & Rationales
Therapeutic Interviewing | Comprehensive History | ROS | Documentation | Clinical Reasoning
Health History Quick Checklist
• Opening: introduce yourself, verify identity/privacy, establish rapport, and begin with an open-ended chief
concern.
• HPI: characterize onset, location, duration, quality, aggravating/relieving factors, associated symptoms,
severity, treatment, and functional effect.
• Past history: medical conditions, hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, allergies/reactions,
immunizations, and preventive care.
• Family history: major diseases, premature illness/death, relationship, and age of onset when known.
• Social history: tobacco, alcohol/substances, diet, activity, sleep, occupation, living situation, support, access,
and safety.
• Sexual/reproductive: ask privately and without assumptions; assess clinically relevant menstrual,
pregnancy, contraception, STI, and reproductive-goal history.
• Psychosocial: mood, stress, coping, support, mental-health history, trauma, and safety concerns.
• ROS: systematically screen symptoms by body system and follow up important positive findings.
• Close: summarize, clarify, invite additional concerns, educate appropriately, and document accurately.
Shadow Health – Tina Jones Health History | 2026 Original Practice Guide
,100-Question Practice Bank
Interview Opening & Communication
1. Which approach best demonstrates the best opening approach?
A. Introduce yourself, verify identity, explain your role, and begin with an open-ended question
B. Skip the topic unless the patient volunteers information
C. Use a leading question that suggests the expected answer
D. Make an assumption and document it as confirmed
Correct Answer: A. Introduce yourself, verify identity, explain your role, and begin with an open-ended
question
Rationale: This approach supports a systematic, patient-centered health history and improves the accuracy
and clinical usefulness of the information collected.
2. During a Shadow Health–style interview, what is the most appropriate action when focusing on best
opening approach?
A. Move immediately to an unrelated body system
B. Rely on assumptions instead of clarification
C. Document the information without asking the patient
D. Introduce yourself, verify identity, explain your role, and begin with an open-ended question
Correct Answer: D. Introduce yourself, verify identity, explain your role, and begin with an open-ended
question
Rationale: The best response uses therapeutic communication, relevant follow-up, and accurate data
collection rather than assumptions or premature closure.
3. Which approach best demonstrates the best therapeutic follow-up?
A. Skip the topic unless the patient volunteers information
B. Use a leading question that suggests the expected answer
C. Make an assumption and document it as confirmed
D. Use a neutral prompt such as, 'Can you tell me more about that?'
Shadow Health – Tina Jones Health History | 2026 Original Practice Guide
,Correct Answer: D. Use a neutral prompt such as, 'Can you tell me more about that?'
Rationale: This approach supports a systematic, patient-centered health history and improves the accuracy
and clinical usefulness of the information collected.
4. During a Shadow Health–style interview, what is the most appropriate action when focusing on best
therapeutic follow-up?
A. Rely on assumptions instead of clarification
B. Document the information without asking the patient
C. Use a neutral prompt such as, 'Can you tell me more about that?'
D. Move immediately to an unrelated body system
Correct Answer: C. Use a neutral prompt such as, 'Can you tell me more about that?'
Rationale: The best response uses therapeutic communication, relevant follow-up, and accurate data
collection rather than assumptions or premature closure.
5. Which approach best demonstrates the best empathy response?
A. Use a leading question that suggests the expected answer
B. Make an assumption and document it as confirmed
C. Acknowledge the patient's experience without judging or minimizing it
D. Skip the topic unless the patient volunteers information
Correct Answer: C. Acknowledge the patient's experience without judging or minimizing it
Rationale: This approach supports a systematic, patient-centered health history and improves the accuracy
and clinical usefulness of the information collected.
6. During a Shadow Health–style interview, what is the most appropriate action when focusing on best
empathy response?
A. Document the information without asking the patient
B. Acknowledge the patient's experience without judging or minimizing it
C. Move immediately to an unrelated body system
D. Rely on assumptions instead of clarification
Correct Answer: B. Acknowledge the patient's experience without judging or minimizing it
Shadow Health – Tina Jones Health History | 2026 Original Practice Guide
, Rationale: The best response uses therapeutic communication, relevant follow-up, and accurate data
collection rather than assumptions or premature closure.
7. Which approach best demonstrates the best way to clarify?
A. Make an assumption and document it as confirmed
B. Rephrase the question in clear, simple language
C. Skip the topic unless the patient volunteers information
D. Use a leading question that suggests the expected answer
Correct Answer: B. Rephrase the question in clear, simple language
Rationale: This approach supports a systematic, patient-centered health history and improves the accuracy
and clinical usefulness of the information collected.
8. During a Shadow Health–style interview, what is the most appropriate action when focusing on best
way to clarify?
A. Rephrase the question in clear, simple language
B. Move immediately to an unrelated body system
C. Rely on assumptions instead of clarification
D. Document the information without asking the patient
Correct Answer: A. Rephrase the question in clear, simple language
Rationale: The best response uses therapeutic communication, relevant follow-up, and accurate data
collection rather than assumptions or premature closure.
9. Which approach best demonstrates the best closing approach?
A. Summarize, clarify, and ask whether the patient has additional concerns
B. Skip the topic unless the patient volunteers information
C. Use a leading question that suggests the expected answer
D. Make an assumption and document it as confirmed
Correct Answer: A. Summarize, clarify, and ask whether the patient has additional concerns
Rationale: This approach supports a systematic, patient-centered health history and improves the accuracy
and clinical usefulness of the information collected.
Shadow Health – Tina Jones Health History | 2026 Original Practice Guide