Videotaped Interview - Overview

You will have two opportunities to interview a standardized patient who has a common medical problem. These sessions will be videotaped for later review. You will have approximately ten minutes to introduce yourself, obtain the chief complaint(s), and develop a history of present illness. You may also acquire part of the past medical history as appropriate. Do not worry about finishing. Take your time. Concentrate on the interview process. The details you obtain are less important than achieving a good flow of information. You may wish to practice by interviewing a colleague first.

You will be given a videotape for these sessions - take care of it! After the interview, review the tape all the way through at least once making notes on the form provided. Queue the tape to a section where you'd like some feedback and bring it to your next small group session. It is your responsibility to bring your tape, queued and ready for the next interview.

Suggested Outline

• Welcome and identify the patient, identify yourself, ensure comfort.
• Obtain the chief complaint(s), set the agenda. Avoid detail here.
• Encourage the patient to talk about their problems by using open-ended questions.
• Establish a personal focus as appropriate.
  • "It must be hard getting up every morning feeling as tired as you do..."
• Summarize the patient's problems.
  • "So your left leg, right shoulder, and both hips hurt. Is there anything else going on?"
• Prioritize, focus on the most urgent symptom.
  • "It sounds like the headache is bothering you most. Is that correct?"
• Begin with open-ended questions about a specific symptom.
  • "Please tell me more about your leg pain?"
• Focus with closed-ended questions
  • Location/Radiation
  • Quality/Quantity
  • Timing/Duration/Frequency
  • Aggravating/Relieving Factors
  • Associated Symptoms
• Pursue other symptoms and past medical history as time permits