Patient Communication Skills Flashcards

A patient with diabetes says, 'I know I should exercise, but I just can't seem to make it happen.' This statement BEST represents:

Answer: Contemplation — the patient is aware of the need but ambivalent about acting

Acknowledging the need to exercise while being unable to act reflects the ambivalence characteristic of the contemplation stage of the Transtheoretical Model.

Which of the following is the PRIMARY goal of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES)?

Answer: Empowering patients to make informed self-management decisions

DSMES focuses on empowering patients with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage their own diabetes effectively.

A patient who uses insulin pens asks their DCES to demonstrate injection technique. What is the MOST effective educational approach?

Answer: Demonstrate the technique using a training pen, then observe the patient perform a return demonstration

Demonstration followed by a patient return demonstration (show-do-show) is the gold standard for teaching psychomotor skills like injection technique.

A patient says, 'My family thinks diabetes is a punishment from God and won't let me eat differently.' The DCES should FIRST:

Answer: Explore the patient's own beliefs and assess the family's influence on self-management

Exploring the patient's own beliefs and understanding the family's role in self-management is the first step before planning culturally appropriate interventions.

When a DCES documents a patient education encounter, which element is MOST important to include regarding communication?

Answer: Evidence that teach-back was used and what understanding was verified

Documenting the use of teach-back and what understanding was verified provides evidence-based support for patient comprehension and legal accountability.

A patient with diabetes is also managing depression. How does depression MOST commonly affect diabetes communication and education?

Answer: It can reduce motivation, concentration, and ability to retain new information

Depression impairs motivation, cognitive function, and information retention, making tailored communication strategies and mental health collaboration essential.

A DCES wants to assess a patient's readiness to change their diet. Which question BEST gauges readiness?

Answer: 'On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it to you to change your eating habits right now?'

A readiness ruler question using a numerical scale is a validated motivational interviewing tool for assessing the importance and confidence of behavior change.