Chapter 01: The Patient Interview
Des Jardins: Clinical Manifestations and Assessment of Respiratory Disease, 8th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The respiratory care practitioner is conducting a patient interview. The main purpose of
this interview is to:
a. review data with the patient.
b. gather subjective data from the patient.
c. gather objective data from the patient.
d. fill out the history form or checklist.
ANS: B
The interview is a meeting between the respiratory care practitioner and the patient. It
allows the collection of subjective data about the patient’s feelings regarding his/her
condition. The history should be done before the interview. Although data can be
reviewed, that is not the primary purpose of the interview.
2. For there to be a successful interview, the respiratory therapist must:
a. provide leading questions to guide the patient.
b. reassure the patient.
c. be an active listener.
d. use medical terminology to show knowledge of the subject matter.
ANS: C
The personal qualities that a respiratory therapist must have to conduct a successful
interview include being an active listener, having a genuine concern for the patient, and
having empathy. Leading questions must be avoided. Reassurance may provide a false
sense of comfort to the patient. Medical jargon can sound exclusionary and paternalistic
to a patient.
3. Which of the following would be found on a history form?
1. Age
2. Chief complaint
3. Present health
4. Family history
5. Health insurance provider
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 3, 4, 5
d. 1, 2, 3, 4
ANS: D
Age, chief complaint, present health, and family history are typically found on a health
history form because each can impact the patient’s health. Health insurance provider
information, while needed for billing purposes, would not be found on the history form.
,4. External factors the respiratory care practitioner should make efforts to provide during an
interview include which of the following?
1. Minimize or prevent interruptions.
2. Ensure privacy during discussions.
3. Interviewer is the same sex as the patient to prevent bias.
4. Be comfortable for the patient and interviewer.
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 2, 4
d. 2, 3, 4
ANS: C
External factors, such as a good physical setting, enhance the interviewing process.
Regardless of the interview setting (the patient’s bedside, a crowded emergency room, an
office in the hospital or clinic, or the patient’s home), efforts should be made to (1)
ensure privacy, (2) prevent interruptions, and (3) secure a comfortable physical
environment (e.g., comfortable room temperature, sufficient lighting, absence of noise).
An interviewer of either gender, who acts professionally, should be able to interview a
patient of either gender.
5. The respiratory therapist is conducting a patient interview. The therapist chooses to use
open-ended questions. Open-ended questions allow the therapist to do which of the
following?
1. Gather information when a patient introduces a new topic.
2. Introduce a new subject area.
3. Begin the interview process.
4. Gather specific information.
a. 4
b. 1, 3
c. 1, 2, 3
d. 2, 3, 4
ANS: C
An open-ended question should be used to start the interview, introduce a new section of
questions, and gather more information from a patient’s topic. Closed or direct questions
are used to gather specific information.
6. The direct question interview format is used to:
1. speed up the interview.
2. let the patient fully explain his/her situation.
3. help the respiratory therapist show empathy.
4. gather specific information.
a. 1, 4
b. 2, 3
c. 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 3
, ANS: A
Direct or closed questions are best to gather specific information and speed up the
interview. Open-ended questions are best suited to let the patient fully explain his/her
situation and possibly help the respiratory therapist show empathy.
7. During the interview the patient states, “Every time I climb the stairs I have to stop to
catch my breath.” Hearing this, the respiratory therapist replies, “So, it sounds like you
get short of breath climbing stairs.” This interviewing technique is called:
a. clarification.
b. modeling.
c. empathy.
d. reflection.
ANS: D
With reflection, part of the patient’s statement is repeated. This lets the patient know that
what he/she said was heard. It also encourages the patient to elaborate on the topic.
Clarification, modeling, and empathy are other communication techniques.
8. The respiratory therapist may choose to use the patient interview technique of silence in
which of the following situations?
a. To prompt the patient to ask a question
b. After a direct question
c. After an open-ended question
d. To allow the patient to review his/her history
ANS: C
After a patient has answered an open-ended question, the respiratory therapist should
pause (use silence) before asking the next question. This pause allows the patient to add
something else before moving on. The patient may also choose to ask a question.
9. To have the most productive interviewing session, which of the following types of
responses to assist in the interview should the respiratory therapist avoid?
a. Confrontation
b. Reflection
c. Facilitation
d. Distancing
ANS: D
With confrontation, the respiratory therapist focuses the patient’s attention on an action,
feeling, or statement made by the patient. This may prompt a further discussion.
Reflection helps the patient focus on specific areas and continues in his/her own way.
Facilitation encourages patients to say more, to continue with the story. The respiratory
therapist should avoid giving advice, using avoidance language, and using distancing
language.
10. When closing the interview, the respiratory therapist should do which of the following?
1. Recheck the patient’s vital signs.
2. Thank the patient.
, 3. Ask if the patient has any questions.
4. Close the door behind himself/herself for patient privacy.
a. 2
b. 2, 3
c. 1, 3, 4
d. 1, 2, 4
ANS: B
To end the interview on a positive note, the respiratory therapist should thank the patient
and ask if the patient has any questions. If there is no need for the vital signs to be
checked, they should not be. The door may be left open or closed, depending on the
situation.
11. The respiratory therapist should be aware of a patient’s culture and religious beliefs for
which of the following reasons?
a. To be able to engage in a meaningful conversation
b. To change any misguided notions the patient has that may impact his/her health
c. To explain to the patient how these beliefs will lead to discrimination and
stereotyping
d. To better understand how the patient’s beliefs may impact how the patient thinks
and behaves
ANS: D
Culture and religious beliefs may have a profound effect on how patients think and
behave, and this may impact their health or health care decisions. The role of the
respiratory therapist is not to change the patient’s beliefs, engage in sensitive
conversations, or discuss discrimination. Rather, the respiratory therapist needs to
understand how these beliefs may impact the patient’s health care decisions.
12. Which of the following are the most important components of a successful interview?
a. Communication and understanding
b. Authority and the use of medical terminology
c. Providing assurance and giving advice
d. Asking leading questions and anticipating patient responses to questions
ANS: A
Communication and understanding are the basis for a good patient interview. Authority,
the use of medical jargon, providing assurance, giving advice, asking leading questions,
and anticipating are all types of nonproductive communication forms and create barriers
to patient communication.
13. The respiratory therapist is conducting a patient interview and recording responses in the
patient’s electronic health record. The respiratory therapist should take which of the
following into account regarding the use of the computer to record responses?
a. The therapist’s attention may be shifted from the patient to the computer.
b. The patient will feel more important than if the information is recorded on paper.
c. The therapist will be less likely to make spelling errors if using a spell-check
program.
