Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

What barrier to patient communication involves anticipating the patient’s responses?

1. Lack of nonverbal communication

2. Prejudgment about the patient’s needs

3. Anticipating what the patient will say

4. Inadequate listening skills

The correct answer is: Anticipating what the patient will say

The correct answer is centered on the concept of anticipating what the patient will say as a barrier to effective communication. When healthcare providers or caregivers focus excessively on predicting a patient's responses, they may overlook the patient's actual needs and feelings. This anticipation can lead to misunderstandings and hinder open dialogue. Effective communication relies on truly listening to what the patient expresses instead of assuming a response based on prior experiences or biases. In the context of patient interaction, when caregivers are focused on their expectations of what the patient might say, they become less attentive to the present dialogue. This can lead to missed opportunities for understanding the patient's unique perspectives and needs, ultimately affecting the quality of care provided. A lack of nonverbal communication can create a barrier since it may prevent full comprehension of a patient's emotions and needs. Prejudgment about the patient’s needs similarly hinders effective communication by introducing biases that affect how caregivers interpret responses. Inadequate listening skills are a barrier because they prevent caregivers from fully engaging with what the patient is communicating. However, the most direct barrier listed in this question is indeed the anticipation of patient responses, which can stifle genuine interaction and care.