Which type of outcome describes changes in patient values, beliefs, and attitudes?

• A. Psychomotor outcomes
• B. Affective outcomes
• C. Clinical outcomes
• D. Functional outcomes

Answer: (B)

Outcomes that describe changes in what patients value, believe, and feel about their care are in the affective domain. This captures shifts in attitudes, motivations, and commitment to health behaviors—things that aren’t about physical skills or measurable health status but about how the patient feels and what they value.

Psychomotor outcomes track physical skills and performance of tasks. Clinical outcomes measure actual health results like symptoms, biomarkers, or disease status. Functional outcomes assess the ability to perform daily activities. So when a patient changes their beliefs or adopts a new health-related attitude, that’s an affective change, making this the best description for the scenario you’re given. For example, a patient who becomes more motivated to follow a treatment plan after counseling demonstrates an affective shift.