ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

Which of the following is a major factor that can influence a patient's response to medication?

1. Age

2. Diet

3. Gender

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

A major factor influencing a patient's response to medication includes a combination of age, diet, and gender, as each of these elements uniquely affects how medications are metabolized and their overall efficacy. Age is significant because pharmacokinetics—the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of drugs—can change throughout a person's life. For instance, pediatric patients and the elderly often require dosage adjustments due to differences in body composition and organ function. Diet also plays a crucial role since the food a patient consumes can interact with medications, enhancing or diminishing their effects. Certain foods may impact drug absorption or metabolism, leading to variations in therapeutic outcomes. Gender is another influencing factor because hormonal differences can cause variations in how medications are processed. For example, certain drugs may have different effects or side effects based on gender due to differences in body fat composition or hormonal levels. Given that all these factors—age, diet, and gender—can significantly alter a patient's reaction to medication, the most comprehensive answer encompasses all of them, leading to the conclusion that all listed factors collectively influence medication response.