Patient Communication Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real FACEM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Communication Skills flashcards as text
A patient with limited English proficiency presents to the ED with chest pain. Which approach best ensures accurate history-taking?
Answer: Use a professional interpreter service
Professional interpreter services ensure medical accuracy, confidentiality, and avoid role conflicts that arise when using family members.
When breaking bad news in the emergency department, which framework is most appropriate?
Answer: SPIKES (Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions, Strategy)
SPIKES is the evidence-based protocol specifically designed for breaking bad news in clinical settings.
A distressed patient is shouting and refuses to let staff approach. What is the most appropriate initial communication strategy?
Answer: Maintain a calm tone, use open body language, and allow the patient to express their concerns
De-escalation begins with non-threatening body language, calm vocal tone, and actively listening to the patient's concerns.
When obtaining informed consent for a procedure in the ED from a competent adult, what is the most important element?
Answer: Ensuring the patient understands risks, benefits, and alternatives in plain language
Valid informed consent requires that the patient understands the material information, not just signs a document.
A tearful patient says 'I just want to know if I'm going to die.' How should the emergency physician respond?
Answer: Acknowledge the emotion and explore what they mean before providing information
Acknowledging emotion and clarifying the patient's concern before responding demonstrates empathy and gathers important context.
Which communication technique is most effective when explaining a new diagnosis to an anxious patient in the ED?
Answer: Use chunk-and-check: give small pieces of information and verify understanding
Chunk-and-check prevents information overload and confirms comprehension at each step, especially important for anxious patients.
A patient declines a recommended blood transfusion citing religious beliefs. The patient is alert and competent. What is the correct response?
Answer: Respect the refusal, document it, and explore alternative treatment options
A competent adult has the right to refuse any treatment, including life-saving treatment, and this decision must be respected and documented.