C HAPTER 01: T HE H ISTORY AND
I NTERVIEWING P ROCESS
Ball: Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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 severit y of your
headaches? ”
d. “At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe? ”
ANS: B
Stating to the patient that he or she does not get headaches would limit
the information in the patient's answer. Asking the patient what he or
she thinks is causing the headaches is an open -ended question. Asking
the patient how he or she would rate the severit y of the headaches and
asking what time of the day the headaches are the most severe are
direct questions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Applicat ion) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
,2. When are open-ended questions generally most useful?
a. During sensitive area part of the interview
b. After several closed -ended questions have been asked
c. While designin g the genogram
d. During the review of systems
ANS: A
Asking open-ended questions during the sensitive part of the interview
allows you to gather more information and establishes you as an
empathic listener, which is the first step of effective communicati on.
Asking closed-ended questions may stifle the patient's desire to discuss
the history of the illness. Interviewing for the purpose of designing a
genogram or conducting a review of systems requires more focused
data than can be more easil y gathered with direct questioning.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
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.
ANS: C
, Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion. This is not a time to
document in the chart, but rather to focus on the patient. Periods of
silence may cause anxiet y rather than promote calm. The length of the
visit is less important than getting critical information.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (C omprehension) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
4. Mr. Franklin is speaking with you, the healthcare provider, about his
respiratory problem. Mr. Franklin says, “I’ve had this cough for 3 days,
and it’s getting worse. ” You repl y, “Tell me more about your cough. ” Mr.
Franklin states, “I wish I could tell you more. That ’s why I'm here. You
tell me what ’s wrong!” Which caregiver response would be most
appropriate for enhancing communication?
a. “After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever? ”
b. “I'd like to hear more about your experiences. Where were you
born?”
c. “I don't know what's wrong. You could have almost any disease. ”
d. “I'll examine you and figure out later what the problem is. ”
ANS: A
“After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever? ” is the
onl y response aimed at focusing on the chief compliant to gather more
data and does not digress from the issue.
I NTERVIEWING P ROCESS
Ball: Seidel’s Guide to Physical Examination, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
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 severit y of your
headaches? ”
d. “At what time of the day are your headaches the most severe? ”
ANS: B
Stating to the patient that he or she does not get headaches would limit
the information in the patient's answer. Asking the patient what he or
she thinks is causing the headaches is an open -ended question. Asking
the patient how he or she would rate the severit y of the headaches and
asking what time of the day the headaches are the most severe are
direct questions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl ying (Applicat ion) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
,2. When are open-ended questions generally most useful?
a. During sensitive area part of the interview
b. After several closed -ended questions have been asked
c. While designin g the genogram
d. During the review of systems
ANS: A
Asking open-ended questions during the sensitive part of the interview
allows you to gather more information and establishes you as an
empathic listener, which is the first step of effective communicati on.
Asking closed-ended questions may stifle the patient's desire to discuss
the history of the illness. Interviewing for the purpose of designing a
genogram or conducting a review of systems requires more focused
data than can be more easil y gathered with direct questioning.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (Comprehension) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
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.
ANS: C
, Silence is a useful tool during interviews for the purposes of reflection,
summoning courage, and displaying compassion. This is not a time to
document in the chart, but rather to focus on the patient. Periods of
silence may cause anxiet y rather than promote calm. The length of the
visit is less important than getting critical information.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understanding (C omprehension) OBJ: Nursing
process—assessment MSC: Physiologic Integrit y: Physiologic
Adaptation
4. Mr. Franklin is speaking with you, the healthcare provider, about his
respiratory problem. Mr. Franklin says, “I’ve had this cough for 3 days,
and it’s getting worse. ” You repl y, “Tell me more about your cough. ” Mr.
Franklin states, “I wish I could tell you more. That ’s why I'm here. You
tell me what ’s wrong!” Which caregiver response would be most
appropriate for enhancing communication?
a. “After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever? ”
b. “I'd like to hear more about your experiences. Where were you
born?”
c. “I don't know what's wrong. You could have almost any disease. ”
d. “I'll examine you and figure out later what the problem is. ”
ANS: A
“After 3 days, you're tired of coughing. Have you had a fever? ” is the
onl y response aimed at focusing on the chief compliant to gather more
data and does not digress from the issue.
