OSCE Patient Communication Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient admits to non-adherence with their medication. Which response best maintains rapport?
- 'You must follow the prescribed regimen or your condition will worsen.'
- 'Many patients find it difficult to take medication consistently—what's been getting in the way?' (Correct answer)
- 'I'll need to document this as patient non-compliance.'
- 'We'll have to change your treatment plan since you can't follow this one.'
Correct answer: 'Many patients find it difficult to take medication consistently—what's been getting in the way?'
Normalizing non-adherence and exploring barriers with a non-judgmental question encourages honest dialogue and problem-solving.
Question 2: Which nonverbal behavior is most likely to undermine patient trust during a consultation?
- Leaning slightly forward toward the patient
- Checking your phone or watch repeatedly (Correct answer)
- Maintaining a relaxed, open posture
- Sitting at eye level with the patient
Correct answer: Checking your phone or watch repeatedly
Checking devices signals divided attention and communicates that the clinician does not prioritize the patient's concerns.
Question 3: A patient from a collectivist culture wants family involved in all medical decisions. How should you proceed?
- Insist on seeing the patient alone to preserve autonomy
- Ask the patient directly how much involvement they want their family to have (Correct answer)
- Automatically include all family members in all discussions
- Document that the patient lacks autonomous decision-making capacity
Correct answer: Ask the patient directly how much involvement they want their family to have
Asking the patient about their preferences respects both their cultural values and individual autonomy without making assumptions.
Question 4: The 'teach-back' method is used primarily to:
- Assess the patient's baseline medical knowledge
- Confirm that the patient has understood the information given (Correct answer)
- Test the patient's memory at follow-up appointments
- Document the education provided for legal purposes
Correct answer: Confirm that the patient has understood the information given
Teach-back asks patients to restate information in their own words, confirming comprehension rather than just information delivery.
Question 5: During an OSCE encounter, a patient becomes angry about a long wait time. You should:
- Explain that the delay was unavoidable and move on quickly
- Acknowledge the frustration, apologize for the inconvenience, and proceed (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient that other patients had more urgent needs
- Ask the patient to calm down before continuing
Correct answer: Acknowledge the frustration, apologize for the inconvenience, and proceed
Acknowledging and validating the patient's frustration before moving forward demonstrates empathy and defuses tension.
Question 6: What does 'verbal de-escalation' primarily involve?
- Raising your voice to match the patient's intensity
- Using calm tone, simple language, and validating the patient's emotions (Correct answer)
- Calling security immediately when a patient raises their voice
- Offering medication to calm an agitated patient
Correct answer: Using calm tone, simple language, and validating the patient's emotions
De-escalation uses calm vocal tone, clear language, and empathic validation to reduce emotional intensity without confrontation.
Question 7: A patient discloses domestic violence. The immediate priority is to:
- Call the police on the patient's behalf immediately
- Ask the patient if they feel safe and provide information about resources (Correct answer)
- Document the disclosure and continue with the original complaint
- Contact the suspected abuser to hear their perspective
Correct answer: Ask the patient if they feel safe and provide information about resources
Assessing immediate safety and offering resources empowers the patient while respecting their autonomy and readiness to act.
OSCE Patient Communication Skills 3
A patient admits to non-adherence with their medication.
Which response best maintains rapport?