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Which of the following questions or statements would be appropriate in eliciting further information when conducting a health history interview?

1) "Why didn't you go to the doctor when you began to have this pain?"
2) "Are you feeling better now than you did during the night?"
3) "Tell me more about what caused your pain."
4) "If I were you, I would not wait to get medical help next time."

1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The most appropriate question to ask during a health history interview, out of the given choices, is "Tell me more about what caused your pain." This open-ended question encourages patient dialogue without feeling judged. Effective interview questions in healthcare are designed to be open-ended to ensure a full understanding of the patient's health context.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a health history interview, the goal is to gather comprehensive and sensitive information that can help diagnose and treat the patient. An appropriate statement or question to elicit further information would be one that encourages the patient to share more detailed insights about their symptoms and experiences without making the patient feel judged or defensive. Therefore, the most fitting option among the provided is "Tell me more about what caused your pain." This is an open-ended question that invites the patient to describe their situation in their own words. In comparison, the first and fourth options could potentially make a patient feel blamed or lectured, which is not conducive to effective communication in a healthcare setting, while the second option seeks confirmation rather than exploration of the issue.

When developing interview questions, they should be open-ended to allow for a more detailed and nuanced understanding. Such questions help in creating an environment where the interviewee feels comfortable sharing personal health information. Examples of good questions would be:


  • "How did you learn about this subject?"

  • "What is the most fascinating part about this subject for you?"

  • "What should people know about this subject that may be overlooked?"

These questions not only gather factual data but also explore the interviewee's attitudes and perceptions, which can be vital for understanding the full context of the patient's health situation.

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