Mrs. Johnson finds herself limiting certain activities during the day due to her worry that when she laughs or sneezes, she is unable to control her urine flow. What is Mrs. Johnson experiencing?

Choice A reason: Vital signs are objective, measurable data, not specific to musculoskeletal assessment or subjective experience. Pain, a subjective report, better fits the question. Assuming vital signs are subjective risks misclassifying data, leading to errors in prioritizing patient-reported symptoms like pain, critical for musculoskeletal care planning and intervention.

Choice B reason: Taking NSAIDs is a factual history, not a subjective assessment. Subjective data, like pain severity, reflect patient experience. Assuming medication use is subjective misaligns with assessment principles, risking neglect of patient-reported symptoms like pain, essential for evaluating musculoskeletal conditions and guiding effective pain management strategies.

Choice C reason: Pain rated 7 to 8 is subjective, based on the patient’s personal experience, central to musculoskeletal assessment for conditions like arthritis or injury. This guides pain management, like adjusting NSAIDs. Accurate identification ensures patient-centered care, addressing discomfort and improving function, critical for musculoskeletal health outcomes.

Choice D reason: Grimacing and holding a body part are objective, observable signs, not subjective reports. Pain severity, reported by the patient, is subjective. Assuming grimacing is subjective risks misclassification, potentially overlooking patient-reported pain levels, critical for tailoring interventions like analgesics in musculoskeletal assessment and care planning.

Choice A reason: Urinary retention, the inability to void, is caused by bladder or prostate issues, not dietary fiber intake. Fiber affects gastrointestinal motility, not urinary function. High-fiber diets promote bowel regularity but have no direct impact on bladder emptying, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: High-fiber diets prevent constipation by adding bulk to stool and promoting peristalsis, facilitating regular bowel movements. Fiber absorbs water, softening stool and reducing straining, which is critical for patients with poor nutrition, like Mr. Green, making this the correct choice for dietary intervention.

Choice C reason: Stress incontinence, urine leakage during physical stress, results from weakened pelvic muscles or sphincter dysfunction, not dietary factors. Fiber influences bowel health, not bladder control, so this choice is unrelated to the preventive benefits of a high-fiber diet in gastrointestinal function.

Choice D reason: Hiatal hernia, where the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm, is linked to anatomical or pressure factors, not fiber intake. Fiber supports bowel regularity but does not address esophageal or diaphragmatic issues, making this choice irrelevant to the benefits of high-fiber diets.