Psychology and Patient Communication Flashcards
6 cards from real AMCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Psychology and Patient Communication flashcards as text
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which level MUST be addressed before a patient can focus on safety or emotional needs?
Answer: Physiological needs
Maslow's hierarchy places physiological needs (air, water, food, warmth, sleep) at the base. These foundational needs must be met before a person can meaningfully address safety, social, esteem, or self-actualization needs.
A patient with a terminal diagnosis begins shouting that the test results must be wrong and demanding a second opinion. According to Kübler-Ross, this patient is most likely in which stage of grief?
Answer: Denial
Denial is the first stage in Kübler-Ross's model and involves refusing to accept the reality of a diagnosis. The patient's insistence that the results are incorrect is a classic denial response, not anger (which involves blaming others).
Which communication technique BEST demonstrates active listening?
Answer: Maintaining eye contact and restating what the patient said
Active listening involves giving the patient full attention, making eye contact, and reflecting or paraphrasing what was said to confirm understanding. This builds trust and ensures accurate information gathering.
When communicating with a patient who has hearing loss, the medical assistant should FIRST:
Answer: Face the patient directly and ensure good lighting so they can lip-read
Facing the patient, maintaining eye contact, and ensuring adequate lighting are the first adaptations for hearing-impaired communication because many such patients rely on lip reading and facial expressions. Raising volume alone can distort speech.
A 4-year-old child refuses to cooperate during a blood draw. Which approach is MOST appropriate based on developmental psychology?
Answer: Use simple words, allow the child to hold a comfort item, and provide praise afterward
Preschool-age children respond best to age-appropriate language, familiar comfort items, and positive reinforcement. Threats or harsh restraint increase trauma and future medical avoidance; distraction and praise are evidence-based techniques.
A defense mechanism in which a patient unconsciously transfers feelings about one person onto the healthcare provider is called:
Answer: Transference
Transference occurs when a patient redirects emotions felt toward a significant person in their life (e.g., a parent) onto the clinician. Recognizing transference helps healthcare workers avoid taking patient reactions personally and respond therapeutically.