Assessment and Diagnosis Flashcards
5 cards from real AANPCB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 5 Assessment and Diagnosis flashcards as text
What is the first step in a comprehensive patient assessment?
Answer: Collecting a detailed patient history
The first and most crucial step in any comprehensive patient assessment is collecting a detailed patient history. This involves gathering subjective information about the patient's chief complaint, present illness, past medical history, family history, social history, and review of systems. This historical data provides essential context and guides the subsequent physical examination and diagnostic testing, forming the foundation for an accurate diagnosis.
Which tool is commonly used to assess depression in primary care?
Answer: PHQ-9
The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is a widely used, validated screening tool specifically designed to assess the severity of depression and monitor treatment response in primary care settings. It consists of nine questions directly related to the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder. While other tools assess anxiety (GAD-7), cognitive function (MMSE), or alcohol use (AUDIT), the PHQ-9 is specific for depression.
When evaluating a patient with chest pain, which factor is most critical to determine the urgency of care?
Answer: Description of the pain and associated symptoms
When evaluating a patient with chest pain, the most critical factor for determining the urgency of care is a detailed description of the pain itself and any associated symptoms. Characteristics such as onset, duration, quality, location, radiation, intensity, and aggravating/alleviating factors, along with symptoms like shortness of breath or diaphoresis, help differentiate life-threatening conditions from less urgent causes. The immediate symptom presentation dictates the urgency of intervention.
During a physical exam, auscultation of the lungs reveals crackles in the lower lobes. What is the likely diagnosis?
Answer: Pneumonia
Crackles (rales) heard during lung auscultation, particularly in the lower lobes, are often indicative of fluid in the alveoli, which is a hallmark sign of pneumonia. This sound occurs when air passes through fluid-filled airways or when collapsed alveoli pop open. While asthma and COPD involve airway obstruction, and bronchitis involves inflammation of the bronchi, pneumonia is characterized by alveolar inflammation and fluid accumulation.
Which lab test is most appropriate for assessing kidney function?
Answer: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine are the most appropriate and commonly used lab tests for assessing kidney function. Creatinine is a waste product produced by muscle metabolism, and its levels in the blood are a reliable indicator of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). BUN also reflects kidney function, as urea is a waste product filtered by the kidneys; elevated levels can indicate impaired renal clearance.