How to Answer: You are consulting with a patient that has bruising from a fall. Her male companion answers questions for her, and she barely gives eye contact. What do you do in this situation to get the patient to answer independently?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Residency interview.
3. You are consulting with a patient that has bruising from a fall. Her male companion answers questions for her, and she barely gives eye contact. What do you do in this situation to get the patient to answer independently?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
As a physician and resident in training, you have to be prepared for worst-case scenarios with your patients and a patient that is involved in domestic abuse is certainly one of those scenarios. In asking this question, your interviewers are not only looking to hear how you would handle getting the patient to talk, but also how you would handle the reporting of the situation moving forward. Some states also require that physicians are mandatory reporters of domestic violence, so it would be good to read up on the state that you are interviewing for residency in.
Written by Ryan Brunner on January 8th, 2022
How to Answer
Sometimes a domestic abuse victim's only connection to help might be a trip to the ER, urgent care, or any other type of appointment with a physician. All patients should be screened for abuse whether man, woman, or child. As the physician in charge as a resident, you need to know the warning signs and learn how to assess and ask effective questions. As you answer this question, it is vital that you reiterate the need for separating the couple during your examination so you can ask the right questions of the patient and give her the opportunity to speak openly. From there, talk about any reporting protocols that you are familiar with from your medical training.
Written by Ryan Brunner on January 8th, 2022
Answer Example
"I would need to separate the potential abuse victim from the abuser, though I understand that it may be difficult. I would first ask him to leave the room for the assessment and if he balked, I would probably ask a nurse to take her to the bathroom for a urine sample to ask her questions. I would be careful not to judge or prejudge the situation, but I would do what I needed to do to assess the potential abuse victim thoroughly. I definitely would seek guidance from a faculty member in this situation and I wouldn't hesitate to get security involved if needed."
Written by Ryan Brunner on January 8th, 2022