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Ethics & Law · patient case question

Which of the following is an open-ended question?

Patient case: Fluoride, preparation design, syphilis and patient communication

Scenario: Five short items.

  1. "Have you had a filling before?"
  2. "Are you brushing twice a day?"
  3. "What makes you think you have cavities?"
  4. "Do you have any cavities?"
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. "What makes you think you have cavities?"

  • A. Also closed, and it directs the patient toward a narrow factual reply.
  • B. Closed, and worse, it is leading: it signals the answer you want and invites the patient to give it.
  • C. Correct. It cannot be answered yes or no. It invites the patient to explain in their own words and gives you information you would never have thought to ask for.
  • D. This is closed — it yields a single-word answer and closes the topic.

Note: Open-ended questions are the backbone of motivational interviewing. Typical stems: what, how, tell me about, describe.

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