Deck 1: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills

Question 1

This is an Interpersonal Communication Skill that requires the health-care provider to be aware of and selectively comment on verbal and nonverbal messages:

A) Behavioral observation
B) Focusing
C) Restating
D) Empathy

Answer 1

A
Explanation:Behavioral observation is the best choice because it allows the health-care provider to assess and interpret cues, both verbal and nonverbal, that are taken from the patient during the interaction. The skill of Focusing is used to hone in on particular topics from the interaction with the patient. The skill of Restating allows the provider to repeat key statements back to the patient in order to emphasize important moments of the interaction or to encourage the patient to provide further elaboration. Empathy is a skill to objectively place oneself in another's situation as an outsider.

Question 2

This Interpersonal Communication Skill requires the health-care provider to objectively place oneself in another person's situation:

A) Active Listening
B) Reflection
C) Self-Disclosure
D) Empathy

Answer 2

D
Explanation:Empathy is the best choice because it is the act of the health-care provider placing himself or herself in another person's situation, objectively. With the skill of Self-Disclosure, the health-care provider discloses personal information to the patient which will reinforce the therapeutic experience; therefore, this is not the correct answer. The skill of Reflection involves the health-care provider posing the patient's comments or questions back to the patient; therefore, this is not a correct skill to fit this question. The skill of Active Listening allows the provider to demonstrate attentiveness to verbal and nonverbal messages from the interaction with the patient.

Question 3

The Interpersonal Communication Skill of Empathy differs from Sympathy in that with Empathy the health-care provider:

A) Feels compelled to rescue the patient
B) Objectively places himself or herself in another person's situation
C) Shares the feelings of another person
D) Is unable to perceive or understand to a varying degree what the other person is experiencing

Answer 3

B
Explanation:Empathy allows the health-care provider the ability to place oneself in another person's situation. The health-care provider is able to perceive and understand, to the degree possible as an outsider, the meaning and relevance of what the other person is experiencing. The other three choices would constitute the act of sympathy and would not support the therapeutic relationship.

Question 4

Which technique is best used to create physical and psychological space?

A) Empathy
B) Boundaries
C) Behavioral Observation
D) Humor

Question 5

"It sounds like you're pretty discouraged about your health right now."-This statement is an example of:

A) Empathy
B) Restating
C) Sympathy
D) Reflection

Question 6

What is one consideration that should be taken when using the Interpersonal Communication Skill of Self-Disclosure?

A) It should contribute to the goals of the therapeutic relationship.
B) The focus of the relationship is off of the patient.
C) There are no limits to information shared with the patient.
D) The health-care provider's motivation in using Self-Disclosure is related to the health-care provider's own needs in the interaction.

Question 7

When using the Interpersonal Communication Skill of Humor, the health-care provider must always:

A) Use it in the appropriate context during the interaction with the client/patient.
B) Recognize the universality of humor among all cultures.
C) Prepare a number of humorous things to say before meeting with the client.
D) Use personal observations of the client to base the humorous interaction on.

Question 8

Which of the following does not support the establishment of a rapport being built with a patient/client?

A) Introducing yourself to the client
B) Considering how the client would like to be addressed
C) Making appropriate small talk
D) Talking to the client about your schedule for the day

Question 9

When working with an angry client, the use of which of the following is least effective?

A) Apology
B) Active Listening
C) Intolerance
D) Effective use of silence

Question 10

When client's explanations are vague, confusing, or inconsistent, which Interpersonal Communication Skill is the most effective?

A) Focusing
B) Reflecting
C) Clarification
D) Restating

Question 11

When using a Broad Opening Statement, the health-care provider affords the patient/client the opportunity to:

A) Take responsibility for establishing the topic of the conversation
B) Remain reliant on the health-care provider to lead the interaction
C) Avoid uncomfortable topics of discussion
D) Defer responsibility for the treatment plan to the more experienced health-care professional

Question 12

Using the Interpersonal Communication Skill of Reflection, all of the following are accomplished except:

A) Poses the patient/client comments or questions back to the him or her
B) Encourages the patient/client to divulge information
C) Demonstrates active listening
D) Acknowledges patients' verbal or nonverbal behaviors

Question 13

When a health-care provider takes on the thoughts and feelings of another person as the provider's own, it is considered:

A) Clarification
B) Empathy
C) Sympathy
D) Active Listening

Question 14

When a health-care provider uses the Interpersonal Communication Skill of Sympathy, all of the following happen, except:

A) Ability to fully support a patient/client decreases
B) Objectivity is lost
C) Ability to perceive and understand what another is experiencing improves
D) One is overtaken by emotion

Question 15

Which of the following is an example of a nontherapeutic statement?

A) "It must be very hard for you to go on after your loss."
B) "You think this doesn't matter."
C) "You hang in there. Things will get better."
D) "Who would you say is a good support for you?"

Question 16

This Interpersonal Communication Skill allows the patient and provider opportunities to reflect and consider and allows a moment for the patient to remain with a particular thought or feeling:

A) Reflection
B) Silence
C) Restating
D) Information Sharing

Question 17

"Pat, you seem different this morning." This statement is an example of:

A) Reflection
B) Behavioral Observation
C) Broad Opening Statement
D) Focusing

Question 18

"Your feelings are valid. I, too, have felt anxious when taking on new challenges." This statement is an example of:

A) Broad Opening Statement
B) Self-Disclosure
C) Reflecting
D) Empathy

Question 19

"Everyone has different experiences with this medication, but most show some effect within 4 weeks." This statement is an example of:

A) Clarification
B) Restating
C) Information Sharing
D) Reflection