CDCES Patient Communication Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with low health literacy struggles to understand carbohydrate counting instructions. What is the BEST communication strategy?
- Use simpler language and visual aids like food models or pictures (Correct answer)
- Provide a detailed written pamphlet for them to study at home
- Repeat the same explanation more slowly and loudly
- Refer the patient to a registered dietitian only
Correct answer: Use simpler language and visual aids like food models or pictures
Simplifying language and using visual aids are evidence-based strategies for communicating with patients who have low health literacy.
Question 2: During a diabetes education session, a patient becomes tearful when discussing insulin initiation. The DCES should FIRST:
- Continue the education session to avoid losing momentum
- Acknowledge the patient's emotions and pause to offer support (Correct answer)
- Immediately call the patient's physician to report distress
- Reschedule the appointment for another day
Correct answer: Acknowledge the patient's emotions and pause to offer support
Acknowledging emotions before continuing education demonstrates empathy and builds therapeutic rapport.
Question 3: Which technique is MOST effective for confirming a patient understands their medication instructions?
- Ask 'Do you understand your medication schedule?'
- Have the patient sign an informed consent form
- Use the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain it back (Correct answer)
- Provide a written medication list and ask them to keep it
Correct answer: Use the teach-back method by asking the patient to explain it back
Teach-back is the gold standard for verifying patient understanding by having them demonstrate or explain information in their own words.
Question 4: A Spanish-speaking patient arrives without a scheduled interpreter. What is the MOST appropriate action?
- Proceed with the session using gestures and diagrams
- Ask the patient's adult child who is present to interpret
- Use a qualified medical interpreter service before proceeding (Correct answer)
- Postpone all diabetes education until a formal appointment can be made
Correct answer: Use a qualified medical interpreter service before proceeding
Qualified medical interpreters ensure accuracy and confidentiality; using family members as interpreters is discouraged due to potential bias and error.
Question 5: When using motivational interviewing, the DCES asks, 'What worries you most about starting insulin?' This question is BEST described as:
- A closed-ended question to gather specific data
- An open-ended question that explores patient concerns (Correct answer)
- A leading question designed to overcome resistance
- A reflective statement summarizing patient ambivalence
Correct answer: An open-ended question that explores patient concerns
Open-ended questions invite patients to share their perspective and are foundational to motivational interviewing.
Question 6: A patient reports checking blood glucose only when feeling symptomatic. Using the 5 A's framework, what step does addressing this behavior represent?
- Ask
- Advise
- Assess (Correct answer)
- Assist
Correct answer: Assess
Assessing the patient's current behavior patterns is the third step of the 5 A's model (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, Arrange).
Question 7: Which communication approach BEST supports a patient's autonomy in diabetes self-management?
- Tell the patient exactly what changes they must make to improve outcomes
- Provide options and collaboratively set goals based on the patient's priorities (Correct answer)
- Use authoritative language to emphasize the seriousness of non-adherence
- Limit discussion to clinical targets to keep sessions focused
Correct answer: Provide options and collaboratively set goals based on the patient's priorities
Collaborative goal-setting that respects patient priorities supports autonomy and improves long-term self-management engagement.
CDCES Patient Communication Skills 2
A patient with low health literacy struggles to understand carbohydrate counting instructions.
What is the BEST communication strategy?