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Medicine vocabulary · Patient Communication

Open question

Meaning in medicine, with examples

nounCommon term

In medicine, open question means: A question that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no and invites the patient to explain in their own words.

In Turkish: açık uçlu soru

How it is used

Doctors start a consultation with open questions such as 'What brings you in today?' or 'Tell me more about the pain', then narrow down with closed questions. Communication skills courses call this the 'open-to-closed cone'.

Example sentences

  1. Start with an open question and let the patient talk for the first minute.

  2. 'How have things been since the operation?' is a good open question.

Common collocations

  • ask an open question
  • use open questions
  • open-ended question
  • start with an open question
  • closed questionA question that can be answered with yes, no or a single fact, used to check specific details quickly.
  • 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.
  • chief complaintThe main problem that made the patient come to see a doctor, usually written in the patient's own words at the start of the notes.
  • empathyThe ability to understand how another person feels and to show them that you understand.

More terms: Patient Communication

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