NURS 6512 week 1 Discussion: Building a Health History

NURS 6512 week 1 Discussion: Building a Health History

Building a Health History

Adolescent Hispanic/Latino boy living in a middle-class suburb When talking to an adolescent, it’s important to make them feel comfortable and earn their trust. Sometimes, adolescents might not want their parents present during the interview, as they might find certain questions embarrassing. If an interpreter is needed, a professional one is preferred. According to Ball et al. (2019), create a comfortable environment, introduce yourself, ask open-ended questions, and avoid confrontational ones for effective communication.

Communication Techniques

Once the patient is at ease, use open-ended questions to encourage detailed answers rather than yes or no responses. Give the patient enough time to reply, especially if the questions are sensitive. Being prepared is key for a successful interview. Edgemon et al. (2020) emphasize that appropriate questions indicate interviewee readiness and increase the chances of getting the needed information. Maintaining eye contact and good posture builds trust and helps identify discomfort. Proper nonverbal cues encourage patient cooperation.

Risk Assessment Instrument

The chosen risk assessment tool is the Structured Interview of Family Assessment Risk (SIFAR). Santos & Alberto (2016) describe it as a structured professional judgment tool for assessing family risk, covering physical health, mental stability, substance abuse, education, employment, housing/transport, legal issues, violence, social dissonance, poverty, social net, and parenting (Santos & Alberto, 2016). SIFAR was picked because it addresses the adolescent’s needs across medical and psychiatric domains.

Targeted Questions

1. Where do you live and who do you live with?
2. Are you attending school, and which grade are you in?
3. Do you have any medical problems?
4. Do you feel sadder than usual sometimes?
5. Do you smoke or use illegal drugs?

References

Edgemon, A. K., Rapp, J. T., Brogan, K. M., Richling, S. M., Hamrick, S. A., Peters, R. J., & O’Rourke, S. A. (2020). Behavioral skills training to increase interview skills of adolescent males in a juvenile residential treatment facility. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(4), 2303–2318.

Ball, J. W., Dains, J. E., Flynn, J. A., Solomon, B. S., & Stewart, R. W. (2019). Seidel’s guide to physical examination: An interprofessional approach (9th ed.). Elsevier Mosby.

Santos, D., & Alberto, I. (2016). Developing a Family Risk Assessment Tool in Adolescent Offenders: An Exploratory Study. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33(2), 103–113.