Question

A patient reports having difficulty breathing when lying down. The examiner responds by saying, "You have trouble breathing when you lie down." This communication technique is an example of:

a) Empathy
b) Paraphrasing
c) Active listening
d) Clarification

Answer 1

The communication technique being used is paraphrasing (option b), a part of active listening, which ensures correct understanding of a patient's symptoms like difficulty breathing, potentially caused by lung compliance and resistance changes or conditions such as pneumonia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The communication technique used by the examiner when responding to the patient by saying "You have trouble breathing when you lie down" is an example of paraphrasing. This is a method where the listener rephrases the speaker's words to confirm understanding of the message communicated. It's a vital component of active listening and often used in clinical settings to ensure that the healthcare provider understands the patient's concerns accurately.

Difficulty breathing when lying down may have various causes, often indicating changes in the compliance and resistance of the lung due to diseases such as fibrosis, asthma, or emphysema. It could also hint at a more acute condition like pneumonia, which can cause hypoxemia and symptoms like crackling sounds upon breathing—signs that require further medical evaluation and treatment.