Patient Communication Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real ABA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Communication Skills flashcards as text
A patient scheduled for an elective procedure discloses active suicidal ideation during the pre-anesthesia evaluation. What is the anesthesiologist's immediate responsibility?
Answer: Postpone the elective procedure and initiate psychiatric consultation and safety planning before discharge
Active suicidal ideation requires immediate psychiatric evaluation and safety planning before any elective procedure can proceed.
An anesthesiologist realizes mid-conversation that they used excessive medical jargon and the patient appears confused. Which is the best corrective action?
Answer: Pause, apologize for the complexity, and re-explain using plain language and analogies
Pausing to acknowledge and correct jargon use while re-explaining in plain language restores understanding and demonstrates patient-centered communication.
Which element distinguishes informed consent from simple consent in anesthesia practice?
Answer: Patient comprehension of risks, benefits, alternatives, and the right to refuse before voluntarily agreeing
Informed consent requires verified patient understanding of material information and voluntary decision-making, not merely a signature.
A patient reveals during the pre-operative interview that they have been lying about opioid use to avoid judgment. How should the anesthesiologist respond to optimize care?
Answer: Thank the patient for their honesty, reassure them of a non-judgmental approach, and adjust the anesthesia plan accordingly
A non-judgmental response to disclosure of substance use encourages honesty and allows clinically appropriate modifications to the anesthetic plan.
When counseling a patient about postoperative pain management options, the anesthesiologist notes the patient has strong objections to opioids. What is the most appropriate response?
Answer: Explore the reasons for objection and collaboratively develop a multimodal analgesia plan that minimizes or eliminates opioids
Exploring objections and offering multimodal non-opioid alternatives respects patient values while providing effective pain control.
A surgeon pressures the anesthesiologist to proceed with a case after the patient expresses second thoughts about consent just before entering the OR. What should the anesthesiologist do?
Answer: Pause the case, re-engage with the patient privately to address concerns, and proceed only if valid consent is reconfirmed
Patient consent must be reconfirmed when doubt arises at any point; proceeding without valid consent constitutes battery regardless of external pressure.
A patient who is deaf uses American Sign Language (ASL) as their primary language. Which communication provision is legally and ethically required for anesthesia consent?
Answer: A certified ASL interpreter must be provided for the consent process at no cost to the patient
The ADA and Section 504 require healthcare facilities to provide qualified sign language interpreters for deaf patients at no cost for procedures including informed consent.