What type of questions should be asked in the subjective portion of an assessment?

The focus of the subjective portion of an assessment is to gather detailed and personalized information from the patient about their experiences, feelings, and perceptions regarding their health. Open-ended questions are particularly effective in this context because they encourage patients to express themselves more freely and fully. This allows them to share their symptoms, concerns, and any other relevant information in their own words, leading to a deeper understanding of their individual situations.

By utilizing open-ended questions, healthcare providers can elicit more comprehensive responses that reveal the nuances of a patient's condition, which are crucial for developing an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Such questions invite elaboration and can uncover insights that closed-ended or true/false questions might miss, ultimately enhancing the quality of the assessment.