Physician Assistant Mock Interview
Master 40 Physician Assistant interview questions covering clinical scenarios, patient care, and medical decision-making.
Question 6 of 40
What will you do if you have a patient that refuses to take care of their health?
How to Answer
General
Entry Level
Experienced
Community Answers
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
There are many challenges in the healthcare field, and one of them is treating patients who lack the desire to make healthy choices. You may encounter individuals who repeatedly visit your office with the same symptoms, asking for a pill rather than making the effort to live a healthy lifestyle. As you know, lifestyle choices greatly impact specific conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease. Tell the interviewer how you would handle a patient when they continue to complain of the same symptoms without taking the initiative to help themselves.
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"I have learned that working in the medical field requires a certain amount of tolerance. I remind patients of the impact healthy lifestyle choices will make on their conditions, but sometimes I am limited on my influence. I have found that giving patients a clear picture by explaining what is actually happening in their body helps them to understand and often take action."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"It is frustrating to see ailing individuals who do not want to help themselves. I have found that many people are overwhelmed by the amount of conflicting information they receive. I will encourage my patients to make one small change at a time. This could include committing to drinking more water, or eating more fibrous foods."
Rachelle Enns is an interview coach and job search expert. She works with candidates to perform their best in employment, medical, and post-secondary admission interviews.
"This is the challenge of any patient care professional because patients are ultimately accountable for their health once they leave our care. I urge patients to look long-term at how they can make even small improvements. If they are unwilling to make those changes, it's my primary job to care for the patient regardless."
Interview Coach
Jaymie
A real coach, not AI. I read every answer myself and write back with personalized feedback.
Typically responds within 24 hours.
0 - Character Count
Anonymous Answer
I would do my best to met them where they are. I would continue with education and treatment options. I would work with the patient to come up with even one small lifestyle change they could make to better their health. It's important for patients to be involved in their own healthcare decision-making process.
Rachelle's Feedback
Very well stated! I have changed the order just a touch, to help with the flow.
"It is important that patients be involved in the health care decision-making process. For this reason, I do my best to meet them where they are at; meaning, I would continue with education and treatment options. Working with a patient to come up with even one small lifestyle change could be enough to make an impact on their health."
Anonymous Answer
In general, all health care professionals have a duty of taking care of their patients and making sure they comply with their medications and health advice. However, THE PATIENT is accountable for their health and their bodies. We can't force-feed them medications: the only thing we can do is keep following up with care and advice, but it takes listening and compliance for results to be seen.
Rachelle's Feedback
Your answer shows a great deal of professionalism as well as boundaries that are necessary while working with patients and inside the healthcare system in general. Good work!
Anonymous Answer
It is sad to see when a patient does not want to help themselves and often it is overwhelming for them to make decisions but I would encourage and explains the best possible way to help them make a decision. At last, it is my job to care for patients.
Rachelle's Feedback
It's wonderful that you are so understanding of your patients and empathetic to their situations. Going into further detail, what kind of communication approach and/or follow up do you put in place for patients like these?
Anonymous Answer
I have dealt with many patients who have been non-compliant with their treatment plans during my rotations. What I have learned is that all you can do as a PA is educate them as much as possible; but in the end, it is their right to practice autonomy and make their own decisions. I also learned to bargain or work on a compromise. If they aren't willing to take all their medications, maybe encourage them to take at least one that I think is most important to their overall health.
Rachelle's Feedback
Education is an excellent approach when dealing with non-compliant patients. It sounds as though you understand the importance of giving your patients all the tools they need while also maintaining boundaries. If you have a specific story-based example of a time when you dealt with this circumstance, it may be a helpful addition to your response.
Anonymous Answer
This is a great challenge, and we often come across situations like this as healthcare professionals. Ultimately the patients are accountable for their own health once they leave our care.
I personally try to show the patient that small steps and improvements can be made and that it makes a difference in their daily routine.
Regardless of the patients' actions and decisions, it is my primary duty to advise and deliver the best care possible.
Rachelle's Feedback
It sounds as though you have a professional, calm, and empathetic approach based on understanding and a focus on care. This is good!
Anonymous Answer
My job as a healthcare provider is to promote the health and well-being of my patients. In this case, I would counsel my patient about their wellbeing, and I would tell them about the consequences of not following their physician's advice. I do my best to convince them to better take care of their health. At the end of the day, patients have their own autonomy and they have the right to make the decision of not listening to advice.
Stephanie's Feedback
It's evident that you take the health of your patients very seriously! I have suggested a slight rewording of your response to shifting away from terms like "convince" them and move more towards terms like "encourage them." See my suggested updated response in the "Revised Answer" section.
My role as a healthcare provider is to promote the health and well-being of my patients. In this case, I would counsel my patient about their wellbeing, and I would make sure they understood the potential consequences of not following their physician's advice. While I would do my best to encourage them to better take care of their health, at the end of the day, patients have their own autonomy and they have the right to make the decision of not listening to advice.
Unlock All 40 Physician Assistant Questions
Unlock expert responses for clinical scenarios and medical knowledge assessments interviewers prioritize.
Get StartedJump to Question