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Medicine vocabulary · Patient Communication

Closed question

Meaning in medicine, with examples

nounCommon term

In medicine, closed question means: A question that can be answered with yes, no or a single fact, used to check specific details quickly.

In Turkish: kapalı uçlu soru

How it is used

Useful after open questions, in the review of systems and in emergencies: 'Do you have any chest pain now?', 'Are you allergic to anything?'. Too many closed questions early in a consultation can make patients feel rushed and hide important information.

Example sentences

  1. In an emergency, closed questions get you the key facts quickly.

  2. After listening to her story, he used a few closed questions to check for red flags.

Common collocations

  • ask a closed question
  • use closed questions
  • a series of closed questions
  • open questionA question that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no and invites the patient to explain in their own words.
  • review of systemsA quick set of questions about each body system, asked near the end of the history to catch symptoms the patient has not mentioned.
  • take a historyTo ask a patient structured questions about their current problem, past illnesses, medicines, family and lifestyle in order to understand what is wrong.
  • red flagA symptom or sign that suggests a serious cause, such as cancer or a spinal problem, and needs urgent attention or tests.

More terms: Patient Communication

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.