Question

A medical assistant (MA) is interviewing a new patient and obtaining a health history. During the interview, the patient expresses a belief that disease can be caused by a bad spirit or a bad wind. What should the MA avoid during the patient interview?

a) Acknowledging the patient's beliefs
b) Discussing scientific causes of disease
c) Encouraging open-mindedness
d) Asking about family medical history

Answer 1

During a patient interview, a medical assistant should avoid discussing scientific causes of disease and asking about family medical history when a patient expresses a belief in supernatural causes. Acknowledging the patient's beliefs and encouraging open-mindedness are important in building a positive patient-provider relationship.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a patient expresses a belief that disease can be caused by a bad spirit or a bad wind during a health history interview, the medical assistant should avoid discussing scientific causes of disease (option b) and asking about family medical history (option d). Instead, the MA should acknowledge the patient's beliefs (option a) and encourage open-mindedness (option c). By acknowledging the patient's beliefs, the MA shows respect for the patient's cultural and personal beliefs. Encouraging open-mindedness can help foster a trusting and collaborative relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider.