This tends to put the patient at ease, increase rapport, as well as give you an idea of the patient's mental status, organization, and vocabulary. Open ended questions are aimed at getting responses of more than one or two words. On the other hand a leading or negative question tends to tell the patient the answer you want to hear. The first reaction to this type of question is to agree before thinking. In many cases the patient feels intimidated and agrees with the interviewer regardless of the correct answer to the question.
Silence can be a useful tool to encourage the patient to keep talking.
Patients often respond to your opening comment or question with a short statement of a chief complaint and then pause for your next question. This line of questioning is quite useful in generating successful drug histories. Obviously, the individual qualities of the interviewer are important in the development of rapport, and like it or not appearance plays a major role. Patients generally feel that if you're sloppy or unconcerned about your dress, that the care you provide will also be sloppy or unconcerned. Another element required for the development of trust is compassion.