SEIDEL'S GUIDE TO PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION, 9TH EDITION:
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK WITH
200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS | latest 2026 /2027 A+
graded
Chapter 01: The History and Interviewing Process
1. Which question would be considered a "leading question"?
• A. "What do you think is causing your headaches?"
• B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?" ✓
• C. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?"
• D. "At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests the desired answer and can bias the patient's
response. Stating "You don't get headaches often, do you?" limits the information in
the patient's answer .
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.
Rationale: Family members or friends may pose a communication barrier and have
issues of confidentiality. A professional medical interpreter (or a person unfamiliar
with the patient) ensures accurate communication and maintains confidentiality .
,3. Periods of silence during the interview can serve important purposes, such
as:
• A. allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation.
• B. promoting calm.
• C. providing time for reflection. ✓
• D. increasing the length of the visit.
Rationale: Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion .
4. Which technique is most likely to result in the patient's understanding of
questions?
• A. Ask one question at a time.
• B. Repeat the question in the same way.
• C. Use language that keeps the patient from being expressive.
• D. Use proper medical and technical terminology.
• E. Use the simplest language possible. ✓
Rationale: To ensure that your questions have been correctly understood, be clear
and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding .
5. A patient becomes restless during the history and says, "I don't have time for
all of this conversation. I've got to get back to work." Your most appropriate
response would be to:
• A. stop using open-ended questions and become more direct.
• B. ask another open-ended question and insist on an answer.
• C. ask questions about his anger and move closer to him.
• D. acknowledge his anger and proceed with the history and
examination. ✓
• E. ignore his displeasure and become more assertive.
Rationale: This response resists the tendency for patient manipulation, pursues the
information, and confronts the patient's anger appropriately .
,6. When questioning a patient regarding alcohol intake, she tells you that she is
"only a social drinker." Which initial response is appropriate?
• A. "I'm glad that you are a responsible drinker."
• B. "Many people who are really alcoholic say they are social drinkers."
• C. "What amount and what kind of alcohol do you drink in a week?" ✓
• D. "If you only drink socially, you won't need to worry about having a
designated driver."
• E. "Do the other people in your household consume alcohol?"
Rationale: This answer clarifies the patient's own term without asking a leading
question or being judgmental .
7. A 50-year-old man comes to the primary care clinic. He tells you he is
worried because he has had severe chest pains for the past 2 weeks. Which
initial history interview question is most appropriate?
• A. "Can you describe the pain?" ✓
• B. "The pain doesn't radiate to your arm, does it?"
• C. "Have you been treated for anxiety before?"
• D. "Does your father have heart disease?"
• E. "Are the pains worse after you eat?"
Rationale: Initially, an open-ended question is the most appropriate response. "Can
you describe the pain?" is an open-ended question that offers clues to the chief
concern .
8. Ms. A. states, "My life is just too painful. It isn't worth it." She appears
depressed. Which one of the following statements is the most appropriate
caregiver response?
• A. "Try to think about the good things in life."
• B. "You shouldn't feel that way; look at all the good things in your life."
• C. "You can't mean what you're saying."
• D. "If you think about it, nothing is worth getting this upset about."
• E. "What in life is causing you such pain?" ✓
, Rationale: Specific yet open-ended questions are best used when the patient has
feelings of loss of self-worth and depression. The other responses hurry the patient
and offer superficial assurance .
9. During an interview, you have the impression that a patient may be
considering suicide. Which action is essential?
• A. Immediately begin proceedings for an involuntary commitment.
• B. Ask whether the patient has considered self-harm. ✓
• C. Ask whether the patient would like to visit a psychiatrist.
• D. Record the impression and refer for hospitalization.
• E. Avoid directly confronting the patient regarding your impression.
Rationale: If you think the patient may be considering suicide, mentioning it gives
permission to talk about it .
10. You are collecting a history from an 11-year-old girl. Her mother is sitting
next to her in the examination room. When collecting history from older
children or adolescents, they should:
• A. never be interviewed alone because this may alienate the parent.
• B. be mailed a questionnaire in advance to avoid the need for her to talk.
• C. be given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some
point. ✓
• D. be allowed to direct the flow of the interview.
• E. be ignored while you address all questions to the parent.
Rationale: An older child should be given the opportunity to give information
directly. This enhances the probability that the child will follow your advice .
11. When communicating with older children and teenagers, you should be
sensitive to their:
• A. parent's needs.
• B. natural urge to communicate.
• C. need for parental guidance.
EXAMINATION, 9TH EDITION:
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BANK WITH
200 QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS | latest 2026 /2027 A+
graded
Chapter 01: The History and Interviewing Process
1. Which question would be considered a "leading question"?
• A. "What do you think is causing your headaches?"
• B. "You don't get headaches often, do you?" ✓
• C. "On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the severity of your headaches?"
• D. "At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe?"
Rationale: A leading question suggests the desired answer and can bias the patient's
response. Stating "You don't get headaches often, do you?" limits the information in
the patient's answer .
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.
Rationale: Family members or friends may pose a communication barrier and have
issues of confidentiality. A professional medical interpreter (or a person unfamiliar
with the patient) ensures accurate communication and maintains confidentiality .
,3. Periods of silence during the interview can serve important purposes, such
as:
• A. allowing the clinician to catch up on documentation.
• B. promoting calm.
• C. providing time for reflection. ✓
• D. increasing the length of the visit.
Rationale: Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion .
4. Which technique is most likely to result in the patient's understanding of
questions?
• A. Ask one question at a time.
• B. Repeat the question in the same way.
• C. Use language that keeps the patient from being expressive.
• D. Use proper medical and technical terminology.
• E. Use the simplest language possible. ✓
Rationale: To ensure that your questions have been correctly understood, be clear
and explicit while using the patient's idiom and level of understanding .
5. A patient becomes restless during the history and says, "I don't have time for
all of this conversation. I've got to get back to work." Your most appropriate
response would be to:
• A. stop using open-ended questions and become more direct.
• B. ask another open-ended question and insist on an answer.
• C. ask questions about his anger and move closer to him.
• D. acknowledge his anger and proceed with the history and
examination. ✓
• E. ignore his displeasure and become more assertive.
Rationale: This response resists the tendency for patient manipulation, pursues the
information, and confronts the patient's anger appropriately .
,6. When questioning a patient regarding alcohol intake, she tells you that she is
"only a social drinker." Which initial response is appropriate?
• A. "I'm glad that you are a responsible drinker."
• B. "Many people who are really alcoholic say they are social drinkers."
• C. "What amount and what kind of alcohol do you drink in a week?" ✓
• D. "If you only drink socially, you won't need to worry about having a
designated driver."
• E. "Do the other people in your household consume alcohol?"
Rationale: This answer clarifies the patient's own term without asking a leading
question or being judgmental .
7. A 50-year-old man comes to the primary care clinic. He tells you he is
worried because he has had severe chest pains for the past 2 weeks. Which
initial history interview question is most appropriate?
• A. "Can you describe the pain?" ✓
• B. "The pain doesn't radiate to your arm, does it?"
• C. "Have you been treated for anxiety before?"
• D. "Does your father have heart disease?"
• E. "Are the pains worse after you eat?"
Rationale: Initially, an open-ended question is the most appropriate response. "Can
you describe the pain?" is an open-ended question that offers clues to the chief
concern .
8. Ms. A. states, "My life is just too painful. It isn't worth it." She appears
depressed. Which one of the following statements is the most appropriate
caregiver response?
• A. "Try to think about the good things in life."
• B. "You shouldn't feel that way; look at all the good things in your life."
• C. "You can't mean what you're saying."
• D. "If you think about it, nothing is worth getting this upset about."
• E. "What in life is causing you such pain?" ✓
, Rationale: Specific yet open-ended questions are best used when the patient has
feelings of loss of self-worth and depression. The other responses hurry the patient
and offer superficial assurance .
9. During an interview, you have the impression that a patient may be
considering suicide. Which action is essential?
• A. Immediately begin proceedings for an involuntary commitment.
• B. Ask whether the patient has considered self-harm. ✓
• C. Ask whether the patient would like to visit a psychiatrist.
• D. Record the impression and refer for hospitalization.
• E. Avoid directly confronting the patient regarding your impression.
Rationale: If you think the patient may be considering suicide, mentioning it gives
permission to talk about it .
10. You are collecting a history from an 11-year-old girl. Her mother is sitting
next to her in the examination room. When collecting history from older
children or adolescents, they should:
• A. never be interviewed alone because this may alienate the parent.
• B. be mailed a questionnaire in advance to avoid the need for her to talk.
• C. be given the opportunity to be interviewed without the parent at some
point. ✓
• D. be allowed to direct the flow of the interview.
• E. be ignored while you address all questions to the parent.
Rationale: An older child should be given the opportunity to give information
directly. This enhances the probability that the child will follow your advice .
11. When communicating with older children and teenagers, you should be
sensitive to their:
• A. parent's needs.
• B. natural urge to communicate.
• C. need for parental guidance.
