RPSGT Communication & Stakeholder Relations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with obstructive sleep apnea is non-adherent to CPAP therapy and expresses frustration during a follow-up titration. What communication strategy is most appropriate?
- Tell the patient they have no choice but to use CPAP
- Use motivational interviewing to explore the patient's barriers and collaboratively identify solutions (Correct answer)
- Document non-adherence and close the case
- Recommend the patient seek treatment elsewhere
Correct answer: Use motivational interviewing to explore the patient's barriers and collaboratively identify solutions
Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based technique that addresses ambivalence and supports behavior change in non-adherent patients.
Question 2: Which of the following is an appropriate response when a patient reports that they never sleep well in unfamiliar environments?
- Tell the patient their concerns are irrelevant to the study
- Acknowledge the first-night effect and explain that it is accounted for in the study interpretation (Correct answer)
- Reschedule the study for a home sleep test without consulting the physician
- Promise the patient they will sleep normally in the lab
Correct answer: Acknowledge the first-night effect and explain that it is accounted for in the study interpretation
Validating the patient's concern about the first-night effect and explaining how it is factored into interpretation reduces anxiety and builds trust.
Question 3: An RPSGT overhears two colleagues discussing a patient's diagnosis loudly in a common area. What is the most appropriate response?
- Join the conversation since the information is already being discussed
- Remind the colleagues that patient information must be kept confidential and move the discussion to a private area (Correct answer)
- Report the colleagues to the hospital administrator immediately
- Ignore the conversation as it is not your concern
Correct answer: Remind the colleagues that patient information must be kept confidential and move the discussion to a private area
HIPAA requires that patient information be discussed only in private, and colleagues should be reminded of this obligation.
Question 4: A patient who is hard of hearing arrives for a polysomnography study. Which accommodation is most important to implement?
- Conduct the entire study without any modifications
- Use written instructions, visual cues, and ensure the patient's hearing devices are managed appropriately during the study (Correct answer)
- Speak louder throughout all interactions
- Refer the patient to a specialist hearing clinic before proceeding
Correct answer: Use written instructions, visual cues, and ensure the patient's hearing devices are managed appropriately during the study
Written instructions and visual communication strategies ensure the patient fully understands procedures and can communicate during the study.
Question 5: After a difficult night with multiple technical problems, a patient asks the RPSGT if the data collected will still be useful. What is the best response?
- Guarantee that the study was perfect regardless of what happened
- Honestly explain what occurred and inform the patient that the interpreting physician will assess data quality (Correct answer)
- Tell the patient the study definitely needs to be repeated
- Avoid the question and focus on electrode removal
Correct answer: Honestly explain what occurred and inform the patient that the interpreting physician will assess data quality
Honest communication that defers clinical judgment to the interpreting physician maintains trust without overpromising.
Question 6: Which of the following stakeholders is it most critical for the RPSGT to communicate with when a patient's SpO2 drops below 80% and does not recover for more than 2 minutes?
- The patient's insurance company
- The on-call or supervising physician immediately (Correct answer)
- The morning shift technologist at shift change
- The patient's primary care provider via secure message
Correct answer: The on-call or supervising physician immediately
Prolonged severe desaturation is a critical event requiring immediate physician notification per patient safety protocols.
Question 7: A patient expresses embarrassment about their snoring during the intake interview. How should the RPSGT respond?
- Laugh along with the patient to lighten the mood
- Normalize the experience by explaining that snoring is a common reason patients are referred for sleep studies, without judgment (Correct answer)
- Change the subject to avoid the patient's discomfort
- Tell the patient there is nothing to be embarrassed about and move on quickly
Correct answer: Normalize the experience by explaining that snoring is a common reason patients are referred for sleep studies, without judgment
Normalizing the patient's experience with an empathetic and factual response reduces shame and encourages open communication.
RPSGT Communication & Stakeholder Relations 5
A patient with obstructive sleep apnea is non-adherent to CPAP therapy and expresses frustration during a follow-up titration.
What communication strategy is most appropriate?