6 Patients and Health Care Free Online FlashCards

When does a bodily sensation become a symptom?

A sensation becomes a symptom when a person notices it, interprets it as a possible sign of ill health, and decides it matters.

What are the main steps in help-seeking?

People assess what is happening, try self-care or consult trusted people, decide whether professional care is needed, and choose where to go.

What distinct knowledge do patients and clinicians bring to an encounter?

Patients contribute knowledge of their sensations, daily impact, and priorities; clinicians contribute medical expertise and diagnostic assessment.

What does adherence mean in health care?

Adherence is how a person's actions, such as taking medicines or making recommended lifestyle changes, correspond with a care plan agreed with a health professional.

What is shared decision-making?

It is a collaborative process in which patients and clinicians consider available options, evidence about benefits and harms, and the patient's values, goals, preferences, and circumstances.

Why might two people interpret the same sensation differently?

Previous experiences, expectations, beliefs, and circumstances can lead people to interpret the same sensation differently.

Does delayed care-seeking necessarily mean a patient is unconcerned?

No. Delays may reflect barriers or how symptoms are interpreted, so clinicians should explore the reasons rather than assume a patient is unconcerned.

Which symptoms may prompt more urgent care-seeking?

Sudden, unfamiliar, severe, or disruptive symptoms may prompt more urgent care, although decisions also depend on perceived risk and practical circumstances.

How can a clinician begin and clarify a patient's account?

Begin with an open question, then clarify when symptoms began, how they changed, what affects them, and how they affect daily activities.

What practices support effective two-way communication?

Listen without prematurely dismissing or steering the account, use clear language, invite questions, and check understanding.

What is teach-back?

Teach-back asks patients to explain the plan in their own words so the clinician can check whether the explanation was clear.

Why is “adherence” more useful than “compliance”?

“Compliance” can imply that patients should simply obey instructions, whereas adherence describes actions in relation to an agreed care plan.