Ethnic categories: patients should do which of the following?

• A. Check applicable ethnic categories
• B. Select a single category only
• C. Skip if unsure
• D. Enter none

Answer: (A)

The important practice is for patients to check all ethnic categories that apply to them. People can identify with more than one ethnicity, and capturing every category they endorse gives an accurate, respectful view of their background. This self-identification supports appropriate care planning, reporting, and compliance with standards that expect multiple categories to be represented when relevant.

Choosing just one category or skipping the question can misrepresent the patient and reduce the usefulness of the data. Entering none would also falsely indicate no ethnicity, which isn’t accurate.