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BATES' GUIDE TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING PRACTICE
EXAMINATION – QUESTIONS With Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: CLINICAL REASONING AND ASSESSMENT
(Questions)
1. The first step in the clinical encounter is:
A) Performing a physical examination
B) Establishing rapport and gathering the patient's history
C) Ordering diagnostic tests
D) Making a diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The history is the foundation of the clinical
encounter; rapport building comes first.
2. The "chief complaint" is defined as:
A) The patient's complete medical history
B) The primary symptom or concern that brought the patient to
seek care
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C) The physician's diagnosis
D) The most recent lab results
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is the main reason for the visit.
3. The "history of present illness" (HPI) should include all
EXCEPT:
A) Onset
B) Location
C) Duration
D) Family history
Answer: D
Rationale: Family history is separate from HPI; HPI includes
OLDCARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity).
4. "OLDCARTS" is a mnemonic used for:
A) Physical examination
B) Structuring the history of present illness
C) Mental status assessment
D) Neurological exam only
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Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS guides HPI components.
5. "Past medical history" includes all EXCEPT:
A) Childhood illnesses
B) Surgical history
C) Current symptoms
D) Medications
Answer: C
Rationale: Current symptoms are part of HPI, not past medical
history.
6. "Social history" includes all EXCEPT:
A) Tobacco use
B) Alcohol use
C) Occupation
D) Immunizations
Answer: D
Rationale: Immunizations are part of past medical history.
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
7. "Review of systems" (ROS) is:
A) A complete physical exam
B) A systematic inquiry about symptoms in each body system
C) Only for acutely ill patients
D) Optional for all patients
Answer: B
Rationale: ROS systematically reviews symptoms by body
system.
8. "Open-ended questions" during an interview:
A) Limit patient responses
B) Encourage the patient to describe concerns in their own
words
C) Are leading questions
D) Should be avoided
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions elicit more information.
9. "Closed-ended questions" are useful for:
A) Building rapport only
B) Obtaining specific information (yes/no answers)
BATES' GUIDE TO PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING PRACTICE
EXAMINATION – QUESTIONS With Answers and Rationales
SECTION 1: CLINICAL REASONING AND ASSESSMENT
(Questions)
1. The first step in the clinical encounter is:
A) Performing a physical examination
B) Establishing rapport and gathering the patient's history
C) Ordering diagnostic tests
D) Making a diagnosis
Answer: B
Rationale: The history is the foundation of the clinical
encounter; rapport building comes first.
2. The "chief complaint" is defined as:
A) The patient's complete medical history
B) The primary symptom or concern that brought the patient to
seek care
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
C) The physician's diagnosis
D) The most recent lab results
Answer: B
Rationale: The chief complaint is the main reason for the visit.
3. The "history of present illness" (HPI) should include all
EXCEPT:
A) Onset
B) Location
C) Duration
D) Family history
Answer: D
Rationale: Family history is separate from HPI; HPI includes
OLDCARTS (Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating
factors, Relieving factors, Timing, Severity).
4. "OLDCARTS" is a mnemonic used for:
A) Physical examination
B) Structuring the history of present illness
C) Mental status assessment
D) Neurological exam only
,https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
Answer: B
Rationale: OLDCARTS guides HPI components.
5. "Past medical history" includes all EXCEPT:
A) Childhood illnesses
B) Surgical history
C) Current symptoms
D) Medications
Answer: C
Rationale: Current symptoms are part of HPI, not past medical
history.
6. "Social history" includes all EXCEPT:
A) Tobacco use
B) Alcohol use
C) Occupation
D) Immunizations
Answer: D
Rationale: Immunizations are part of past medical history.
, https://www.stuvia.com/user/Performance
7. "Review of systems" (ROS) is:
A) A complete physical exam
B) A systematic inquiry about symptoms in each body system
C) Only for acutely ill patients
D) Optional for all patients
Answer: B
Rationale: ROS systematically reviews symptoms by body
system.
8. "Open-ended questions" during an interview:
A) Limit patient responses
B) Encourage the patient to describe concerns in their own
words
C) Are leading questions
D) Should be avoided
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended questions elicit more information.
9. "Closed-ended questions" are useful for:
A) Building rapport only
B) Obtaining specific information (yes/no answers)
