Mr. W. is a 51-year-old auto mechanic who comes to the emergency room wanting to be checked out for the symptom of chest pain. As you listen to him describe his symptom in more detail, you say "Go on," and later, "Mm-hmmm." This is an example of which of the following skilled interviewing techniques?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Facilitation involves using verbal and nonverbal cues to encourage the patient to continue talking. In this scenario, saying "Go on" and "Mm-hmm" indicates active listening and prompts Mr. W. to elaborate on his symptoms. This technique helps gather more information and shows empathy without imposing personal assumptions or judgments. Echoing involves repeating the patient's last words, nonverbal communication refers to gestures and body language, and an empathic response involves acknowledging and validating the patient's feelings. In this case, the best fit is facilitation as it encourages further discussion without interrupting or steering the conversation.