Welcome, PharmD students, to this MCQ quiz on the Introduction to SBAR Communication! Clear, concise, and structured communication is paramount in healthcare to ensure patient safety and effective interprofessional collaboration. SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) is a widely adopted communication tool designed to standardize information exchange between healthcare professionals. This quiz will test your understanding of the SBAR framework, its components, benefits, and application in various clinical scenarios relevant to pharmacy practice. Let’s enhance your communication skills!
1. SBAR is an acronym that stands for:
- a) Summary, Basis, Action, Response
- b) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
- c) Subjective, Basic, Analysis, Review
- d) System, Breakdown, Approach, Resolution
Answer: b) Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
2. The primary purpose of using the SBAR communication tool in healthcare is to:
- a) Increase the length of patient handoff reports.
- b) Provide a structured and standardized way to communicate critical information, improving clarity and patient safety.
- c) Replace detailed medical record documentation.
- d) Limit communication between different healthcare disciplines.
Answer: b) Provide a structured and standardized way to communicate critical information, improving clarity and patient safety.
3. In the SBAR framework, the “Situation” component involves:
- a) Providing a detailed medical history of the patient.
- b) Concisely stating the immediate problem or reason for communication.
- c) Offering a comprehensive list of all possible solutions.
- d) Documenting the patient’s response to treatment.
Answer: b) Concisely stating the immediate problem or reason for communication.
4. Which of the following pieces of information would typically be included in the “Background” component of SBAR?
- a) Your name and title.
- b) What you would like to be done for the patient.
- c) Admitting diagnosis, relevant past medical history, and current medications.
- d) Your immediate concern about the patient.
Answer: c) Admitting diagnosis, relevant past medical history, and current medications.
5. The “Assessment” component of SBAR should convey:
- a) Only the patient’s vital signs.
- b) A list of all diagnostic tests performed.
- c) Your professional judgment or conclusion about the current situation based on the situation and background.
- d) The time you expect the physician to arrive.
Answer: c) Your professional judgment or conclusion about the current situation based on the situation and background.
6. In the “Recommendation” component of SBAR, you should:
- a) Ask open-ended questions without offering any suggestions.
- b) Clearly state what you believe needs to be done or what you are requesting.
- c) Provide a lengthy discussion of all possible treatment options.
- d) Only state what you have already done for the patient.
Answer: b) Clearly state what you believe needs to be done or what you are requesting.
7. SBAR communication is particularly useful in which of the following scenarios?
- a) Casual conversations in the break room.
- b) Urgent communications, such as reporting a critical lab value or a change in patient status to a physician.
- c) Writing a research paper.
- d) Ordering lunch for the unit.
Answer: b) Urgent communications, such as reporting a critical lab value or a change in patient status to a physician.
8. One of the key benefits of using SBAR is that it helps to:
- a) Reduce the need for critical thinking.
- b) Ensure all relevant information is presented in a clear, concise, and organized manner, reducing omissions.
- c) Make conversations longer and more detailed.
- d) Eliminate the need for follow-up questions.
Answer: b) Ensure all relevant information is presented in a clear, concise, and organized manner, reducing omissions.
9. When initiating SBAR communication, what should you do first in the “Situation” component?
- a) Immediately state your recommendation.
- b) Identify yourself, your role/unit, and the patient you are calling about.
- c) Give a full report of the patient’s lab values.
- d) Ask how the other person’s day is going.
Answer: b) Identify yourself, your role/unit, and the patient you are calling about.
10. The “Background” information provided in SBAR should be:
- a) As extensive as possible, including all information from the patient’s entire medical history.
- b) Brief, relevant, and directly pertinent to the current situation.
- c) Focused only on the patient’s social history.
- d) Limited to the events of the last hour only.
Answer: b) Brief, relevant, and directly pertinent to the current situation.
11. “Dr. Smith, this is [Your Name], the pharmacist. I am calling about Mrs. Jones in room 302. I am concerned about her new-onset atrial fibrillation.” This statement best fits which SBAR component?
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: a) Situation
12. “Mrs. Jones was admitted yesterday for pneumonia. She has a history of hypertension and diabetes. Her current medications include levofloxacin, lisinopril, and metformin. Her vital signs were stable until an hour ago.” This best represents:
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: b) Background
13. “I believe Mrs. Jones’s new atrial fibrillation may be due to her underlying infection or possibly an electrolyte imbalance, and she appears to be hemodynamically unstable with a heart rate of 150 and BP of 90/50.” This reflects:
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: c) Assessment
14. “I recommend we get an EKG and stat electrolytes. Would you like me to order those, or would you like to come see the patient now?” This is an example of:
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: d) Recommendation
15. SBAR was originally developed for use in which high-risk industry to improve communication?
- a) Aviation
- b) Nuclear power (Submarines in the Navy)
- c) Professional sports
- d) Financial trading
Answer: b) Nuclear power (Submarines in the Navy)
16. Effective SBAR communication should be:
- a) Lengthy and filled with jargon specific to one’s own profession.
- b) Clear, concise, factual, and goal-oriented.
- c) Delivered in a hesitant and unsure manner.
- d) Focused on blaming others for the problem.
Answer: b) Clear, concise, factual, and goal-oriented.
17. One goal of the “Assessment” component in SBAR is to convey the _______ of the problem.
- a) cost
- b) urgency or severity
- c) historical context
- d) solution
Answer: b) urgency or severity
18. Before making a recommendation in SBAR, it is important to have:
- a) A complete list of all the patient’s family members.
- b) All the necessary information gathered and analyzed (Situation, Background, Assessment).
- c) Approval from hospital administration.
- d) Waited at least 24 hours.
Answer: b) All the necessary information gathered and analyzed (Situation, Background, Assessment).
19. How does SBAR contribute to a culture of safety in healthcare?
- a) By discouraging staff from speaking up.
- b) By standardizing communication, which can reduce misunderstandings and errors.
- c) By increasing the number of handoffs.
- d) By focusing only on physician communication.
Answer: b) By standardizing communication, which can reduce misunderstandings and errors.
20. When using SBAR to report a medication error, the “Situation” would briefly describe:
- a) The history of similar errors in the institution.
- b) What error occurred and which patient was involved.
- c) Your opinion on who was at fault.
- d) The steps you will take to prevent future errors.
Answer: b) What error occurred and which patient was involved.
21. The SBAR tool is designed to be used by:
- a) Only nurses.
- b) Only physicians.
- c) All members of the healthcare team for interprofessional communication.
- d) Only pharmacists during medication reconciliation.
Answer: c) All members of the healthcare team for interprofessional communication.
22. To ensure the receiver understands your SBAR communication, it’s good practice to:
- a) Speak very quickly and avoid pausing.
- b) Use as many complex medical terms as possible.
- c) Ask for read-back or clarification if necessary, and allow for questions.
- d) End the conversation abruptly after delivering the recommendation.
Answer: c) Ask for read-back or clarification if necessary, and allow for questions.
23. “The patient’s vital signs are BP 110/70, HR 78, RR 16, Temp 37.0°C. Recent labs show a potassium of 4.0 mEq/L.” This information best fits into which SBAR category?
- a) Situation
- b) Background (or supporting data for Assessment)
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: b) Background (or supporting data for Assessment)
24. What is a potential barrier to effective SBAR communication?
- a) Hierarchical differences between healthcare professionals.
- b) Lack of training or familiarity with the SBAR tool.
- c) Time pressures and interruptions.
- d) All of the above.
Answer: d) All of the above.
25. The “Assessment” in SBAR is different from the “Situation” because the Assessment includes:
- a) Only objective data.
- b) Your professional interpretation of the data and statement of what you think the problem is.
- c) The patient’s name and room number.
- d) The actions you want to be taken.
Answer: b) Your professional interpretation of the data and statement of what you think the problem is.
26. When making a “Recommendation,” it is helpful to:
- a) Be vague about what you need.
- b) Suggest specific actions and a timeframe, if appropriate.
- c) Demand that your recommendation be followed without question.
- d) Provide at least ten different options.
Answer: b) Suggest specific actions and a timeframe, if appropriate.
27. SBAR can be adapted for use in:
- a) Only emergency situations.
- b) Written communication (e.g., progress notes, emails) as well as verbal communication.
- c) Only communication with patients.
- d) Only internal pharmacy communications.
Answer: b) Written communication (e.g., progress notes, emails) as well as verbal communication.
28. A pharmacist notices a potentially significant drug interaction for a newly prescribed medication. Using SBAR to contact the prescriber, the “Situation” would be:
- a) Explaining the mechanism of the interaction in detail.
- b) “This is [Pharmacist Name] calling about patient [Patient Name]. I have a concern regarding a potential drug interaction with the new [Drug Name] order.”
- c) “The patient has a history of renal impairment.”
- d) “I recommend discontinuing the new medication.”
Answer: b) “This is [Pharmacist Name] calling about patient [Patient Name]. I have a concern regarding a potential drug interaction with the new [Drug Name] order.”
29. How can practicing SBAR scenarios improve a healthcare professional’s communication skills?
- a) It eliminates the need for active listening.
- b) It helps organize thoughts and present information logically and efficiently, especially under pressure.
- c) It encourages the use of ambiguous language.
- d) It focuses on non-verbal communication only.
Answer: b) It helps organize thoughts and present information logically and efficiently, especially under pressure.
30. If the receiver of SBAR communication does not seem to understand the urgency of the situation conveyed in the “Assessment,” what should the sender do?
- a) End the call immediately.
- b) Politely but assertively reiterate the assessment and the potential risks if no action is taken.
- c) Assume they understood and do nothing further.
- d) Report them to their supervisor.
Answer: b) Politely but assertively reiterate the assessment and the potential risks if no action is taken.
31. The SBAR technique promotes which of the following communication principles?
- a) Ambiguity
- b) Conciseness
- c) Disorganization
- d) Verbosity
Answer: b) Conciseness
32. In an SBAR handoff between shifts, the “Background” should provide:
- a) A complete life story of the patient.
- b) Key information necessary for the incoming caregiver to understand the context of the patient’s current condition and care plan.
- c) Your personal opinions about the previous shift.
- d) Only the patient’s diet order.
Answer: b) Key information necessary for the incoming caregiver to understand the context of the patient’s current condition and care plan.
33. What is the primary focus of the “Situation” component?
- a) Past medical history
- b) Current problem or “headline”
- c) Analysis of data
- d) Proposed solution
Answer: b) Current problem or “headline”
34. Using SBAR can help to overcome communication barriers caused by:
- a) Different levels of experience or hierarchy among team members.
- b) Shared medical knowledge.
- c) Excessive use of standardized tools.
- d) Having too much time for communication.
Answer: a) Different levels of experience or hierarchy among team members. (By providing a common framework)
35. If you are making a recommendation and are unsure of the best course of action, it is acceptable in the “Recommendation” part of SBAR to:
- a) Not offer any recommendation.
- b) State what you think might be appropriate or ask what the other person thinks should be done.
- c) Insist on a specific treatment that you are unsure about.
- d) End the SBAR after the Assessment.
Answer: b) State what you think might be appropriate or ask what the other person thinks should be done.
36. SBAR is intended to make communication more:
- a) Complex and time-consuming.
- b) Efficient, effective, and patient-centered.
- c) Focused on individual achievements.
- d) Prone to errors.
Answer: b) Efficient, effective, and patient-centered.
37. A key element of the “Assessment” is to synthesize the information from the Situation and Background to:
- a) Repeat the patient’s admitting diagnosis.
- b) State what you believe is the most likely problem or a change in condition.
- c) List all medications.
- d) Provide your contact information.
Answer: b) State what you believe is the most likely problem or a change in condition.
38. Which of these is a “Situation” statement?
- a) “The patient has a history of COPD and was admitted 3 days ago for exacerbation.”
- b) “I think the patient is developing respiratory distress.”
- c) “I need you to order a chest X-ray and arterial blood gases.”
- d) “Mr. Johnson in room 204 has an oxygen saturation of 85% on 2L nasal cannula.”
Answer: d) “Mr. Johnson in room 204 has an oxygen saturation of 85% on 2L nasal cannula.”
39. For SBAR to be effective, the sender must be prepared and:
- a) Interrupt the receiver frequently.
- b) Avoid making eye contact.
- c) Have relevant information readily available (e.g., patient chart, lab results).
- d) Use a very quiet tone of voice.
Answer: c) Have relevant information readily available (e.g., patient chart, lab results).
40. The SBAR framework helps to reduce communication errors by:
- a) Eliminating the need for verbal communication.
- b) Providing a predictable structure for information exchange.
- c) Ensuring only one person speaks during an interaction.
- d) Making all communications anonymous.
Answer: b) Providing a predictable structure for information exchange.
41. When a pharmacist uses SBAR to discuss a patient’s adverse drug reaction with a physician, the “Recommendation” might include:
- a) A detailed history of the patient’s allergies.
- b) Suggesting discontinuing the suspected drug and considering an alternative.
- c) An assessment of the patient’s vital signs.
- d) The admitting diagnosis of the patient.
Answer: b) Suggesting discontinuing the suspected drug and considering an alternative.
42. The SBAR process facilitates critical thinking by requiring the sender to:
- a) Memorize patient data only.
- b) Organize information, assess the situation, and formulate a clear recommendation.
- c) Avoid any form of assessment.
- d) Follow a rigid script without deviation.
Answer: b) Organize information, assess the situation, and formulate a clear recommendation.
43. In interprofessional team meetings, using an SBAR format for updates on patients can help ensure that:
- a) Meetings are longer and less focused.
- b) Information is shared efficiently and key concerns are highlighted.
- c) Only the team leader speaks.
- d) No decisions are made.
Answer: b) Information is shared efficiently and key concerns are highlighted.
44. “What I hear you saying is…” or “So, the plan is…” are examples of what communication technique that can be used with SBAR to ensure understanding?
- a) Distraction
- b) Closed-loop communication / Read-back
- c) Assertiveness only
- d) Ignoring the response
Answer: b) Closed-loop communication / Read-back
45. A pharmacist calls a prescriber about a prescription that appears to have an unsafe dose. The “Assessment” part of their SBAR might state:
- a) “The patient is John Doe.”
- b) “The prescription is for amoxicillin 2500 mg.”
- c) “I believe this dose of 2500 mg of amoxicillin is significantly above the recommended maximum daily dose and could be harmful.”
- d) “Can you please change the dose?”
Answer: c) “I believe this dose of 2500 mg of amoxicillin is significantly above the recommended maximum daily dose and could be harmful.”
46. The use of SBAR supports a culture where healthcare professionals feel more comfortable:
- a) Withholding critical information.
- b) Speaking up about patient safety concerns in a structured manner.
- c) Working in isolation.
- d) Avoiding direct communication with physicians.
Answer: b) Speaking up about patient safety concerns in a structured manner.
47. To be most effective, the “Recommendation” should be:
- a) Always a demand.
- b) Specific and actionable.
- c) As broad as possible.
- d) Left out if you are unsure.
Answer: b) Specific and actionable.
48. Which SBAR component aims to answer the question, “What is the problem I am calling about?”
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: a) Situation
49. Which SBAR component aims to answer the question, “What do I think is going on?”
- a) Situation
- b) Background
- c) Assessment
- d) Recommendation
Answer: c) Assessment
50. Consistent use of SBAR across an organization can lead to improved:
- a) Patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.
- b) Staff turnover rates.
- c) Miscommunication.
- d) Number of medication errors.
Answer: a) Patient outcomes and staff satisfaction.