Communication & Interpersonal Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real ECFMG practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Communication & Interpersonal Skills flashcards as text
A patient from a culture where direct eye contact is considered disrespectful avoids your gaze during the interview. How should you adjust?
Answer: Recognize the cultural variation and avoid interpreting it as disengagement
Cultural humility requires recognizing that nonverbal norms vary and adjusting interpretation accordingly rather than applying ethnocentric standards.
An elderly patient with mild cognitive impairment is making a medical decision. What communication strategy is most appropriate?
Answer: Use simple language, assess decision-making capacity, and support autonomous choice where possible
Even patients with cognitive impairment may retain capacity for specific decisions; capacity assessment must be decision-specific and communication should be adapted.
During a telehealth visit, you notice the patient seems distracted and uncomfortable. What is the best initial response?
Answer: Acknowledge the format and ask if the patient has any concerns about the visit
Acknowledging the telehealth context and inviting the patient's concerns normalizes the format and builds rapport in virtual settings.
A patient uses a slang term you do not recognize while describing a symptom. What should you do?
Answer: Politely ask the patient to clarify what they mean by the term
Clarifying unfamiliar terms directly with the patient prevents miscommunication and shows respect for the patient's own descriptive language.
Which scenario best illustrates a therapeutic alliance in clinical practice?
Answer: A patient and physician collaboratively set treatment goals based on shared understanding
Therapeutic alliance involves mutual trust, shared goals, and collaborative agreement on the approach to treatment.
A nurse reports that a patient is anxious about a procedure you have already explained. What is the most appropriate response?
Answer: Return to speak with the patient, acknowledge their anxiety, and offer to re-explain
Directly addressing patient anxiety demonstrates respect, strengthens the therapeutic relationship, and often reduces procedural distress.
A patient asks for your personal opinion about a treatment option. What is the most balanced response?
Answer: Share a professional recommendation while clearly respecting the patient's right to decide
Sharing a reasoned professional recommendation while affirming patient autonomy supports informed decision-making without being paternalistic.