Final answer:
The best way to assess a patient's response to oral iron is by measuring ferritin levels, which indicate the amount of iron stored in the body. A complete blood count (CBC) is also useful to determine if the patient's anemia is improving with iron therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To assess a patient's response to oral iron, the best way is to measure ferritin levels. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in the body, so a low ferritin level indicates low iron stores. Another useful test is the complete blood count (CBC), which measures the number of red blood cells and their size. This can help determine if the patient's anemia is improving with iron therapy.