COA Exam Review Questions and
Answers (Graded A)
A history is obtained by:
a) asking a series of organized and specific questions
b) observing the patient's actions in the exam room
c) allowing the patient to discuss anything they wish
d) asking the same questions of each patient during every exam - ANSWER-A; The
questions should be organized and specific, directing the patient's narrative and tailored
to the problems at hand.
The history should be recorded:
a) by writing down the patient's entire story, word-for-word
b) by condensing the patient's story, including pertinent facts
c) by interpreting the patient's story and suggesting a diagnosis
d) by copying patient information from a questionnaire - ANSWER-B; The assistant
should avoid writing down the patient's every word or trying to interpret. Diagnosis is the
physician's realm. Questionnaires have their place, but cannot be used for an entire
history because each patient is different.
When taking a history on a school-aged child, it is important to:
a) listen only to the parent's account of the illness
b) listen only to the child's account of the illness
c) talk to the parent outside of the child's hearing
d) get an account of the illness from both the parent and child - ANSWER-D; A normal
school-aged child is usually able to give a fairly good history, with the parent affirming
the information.
A symptom is:
a) something you notice when you look at the patient
b) something that can always be tested and proven
c) a change noticed by the patient
d) any charge that results from injury - ANSWER-
An example of a sign is:
a) the patient tells you what part of the eye hurts
b) an elevated intraocular pressure reading
c) the patient complains of blurred vision
d) the patient complains of a pressure sensation behind the eyes - ANSWER-
A 56-year-old patient complains of a sudden onset of double vision. It is most important
to ask:
a) "Does the doubling go away if you cover one eye?"
Answers (Graded A)
A history is obtained by:
a) asking a series of organized and specific questions
b) observing the patient's actions in the exam room
c) allowing the patient to discuss anything they wish
d) asking the same questions of each patient during every exam - ANSWER-A; The
questions should be organized and specific, directing the patient's narrative and tailored
to the problems at hand.
The history should be recorded:
a) by writing down the patient's entire story, word-for-word
b) by condensing the patient's story, including pertinent facts
c) by interpreting the patient's story and suggesting a diagnosis
d) by copying patient information from a questionnaire - ANSWER-B; The assistant
should avoid writing down the patient's every word or trying to interpret. Diagnosis is the
physician's realm. Questionnaires have their place, but cannot be used for an entire
history because each patient is different.
When taking a history on a school-aged child, it is important to:
a) listen only to the parent's account of the illness
b) listen only to the child's account of the illness
c) talk to the parent outside of the child's hearing
d) get an account of the illness from both the parent and child - ANSWER-D; A normal
school-aged child is usually able to give a fairly good history, with the parent affirming
the information.
A symptom is:
a) something you notice when you look at the patient
b) something that can always be tested and proven
c) a change noticed by the patient
d) any charge that results from injury - ANSWER-
An example of a sign is:
a) the patient tells you what part of the eye hurts
b) an elevated intraocular pressure reading
c) the patient complains of blurred vision
d) the patient complains of a pressure sensation behind the eyes - ANSWER-
A 56-year-old patient complains of a sudden onset of double vision. It is most important
to ask:
a) "Does the doubling go away if you cover one eye?"
