CDCES Patient Communication Skills 4

Question 1

A patient from a culture where direct eye contact is considered disrespectful appears to avoid the DCES's gaze during education. The DCES should:

Accepted Answer

Recognize this as a possible cultural norm and continue without misinterpreting it

Answer

Cultural competence requires recognizing that nonverbal communication norms vary across cultures and should not be misinterpreted.

Question 2

Which of the following BEST describes the difference between empathy and sympathy in patient communication?

Accepted Answer

Empathy involves understanding and sharing the patient's feelings; sympathy is feeling pity

Answer

Empathy involves recognizing and sharing the patient's emotional experience, while sympathy involves feeling pity or sorrow for them from a distance.

Question 3

A patient with type 1 diabetes is adolescent and responds mostly in monosyllables during education sessions. The DCES's BEST strategy is to:

Accepted Answer

Use age-appropriate, patient-directed questions and avoid talking only to the parent

Answer

Directing questions to the adolescent patient supports their developing autonomy and engagement with self-management.

Question 4

A patient expresses: 'My doctor just tells me what to do; no one ever asks what I think.' The DCES should:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge the concern and use a shared decision-making approach throughout the session

Answer

Acknowledging the patient's experience and adopting shared decision-making demonstrates respect for their perspective and builds therapeutic alliance.

Question 5

During a telehealth diabetes education session, the patient's video keeps freezing. The DCES should:

Accepted Answer

Troubleshoot the technical issue, switch to audio-only if needed, and confirm the patient can follow along

Answer

Troubleshooting and adapting the format (e.g., audio-only) ensures the session continues productively while confirming the patient's ability to follow.

(CDCES) Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Practice Test

(CDCES) Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist Practice Test

CDCES Patient Communication Skills 4