Popular Response (P)

Aliases

• Popular
• P
• popular response
• conventional response

Definition

Popular identifies responses that occur with high frequency in the system’s reference population. In coding, P is assigned when the response matches a defined popular by criterion, location, and content.

Conditions

• The response must match a recognized popular response in the system.
• It is not enough for the response to resemble a popular; it must actually fit the criterion and required location.
• P is marked separately alongside the main response coding.
• The decision should be made from the system’s popular list, not from clinical intuition alone.

Cautions

• A quasi-popular should not receive P if content or location changes in a meaningful way.
• Card orientation can matter because some populars require the top or head area to remain in the expected position.
• Frequency or absence of P is interpreted later; in coding, the only question is whether the response meets the criterion.
• Cultural context may affect interpretation, but the coding decision must follow the applicable Comprehensive System criterion.

Cross References

• [Coding] score
• [Coding/Cards] Card
• [Coding/GHR-PHR] GHR
• [Interpretation/Mediation] P