Which item indicates a patient’s response status during evaluation?

• A. Proxy Input
• B. Inpatient Discharge Date
• C. Response Codes
• D. Ethnic Categories

Answer: (C)

During evaluation, you need to know how the patient actually provided information for each item. Response Codes are the field that records the status of the patient’s answer for an item—whether the patient answered, a proxy supplied the information, or the patient refused or could not respond. This directly indicates the patient’s response status and helps determine how the data were obtained and whether non-response affects scoring or interpretation. The other items don’t capture how the information was obtained: Proxy Input shows when a proxy supplies data, Inpatient Discharge Date is an administrative date, and Ethnic Categories document demographic background. Hence, Response Codes best indicate the patient’s response status during evaluation.