Texas Medical Assistant Certification Practice Test

Which of the following is a closed question or statement?

1. "Tell me about your headaches."

2. "Does your head hurt?"

3. "How are you feeling?"

4. "Are you alright?"

The correct answer is: "Does your head hurt?"

A closed question is one that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" or other brief responses, requiring minimal elaboration. In this case, "Does your head hurt?" invites a direct answer and does not encourage a detailed response. This type of question is particularly useful in clinical settings where quick, specific information is needed to assess a patient's condition efficiently. In contrast, the other options are examples of open questions which encourage more expansive responses. For instance, "Tell me about your headaches" asks the patient to provide detailed information about their experience, while "How are you feeling?" and "Are you alright?" also invite the patient to share their thoughts and feelings in a more comprehensive manner. These kinds of questions are valuable for gathering detailed patient information, but they do not fit the definition of a closed question, which seeks succinct answers. Therefore, focusing on the specific phrasing of "Does your head hurt?" highlights its nature as a closed question effectively.