History Taking in Medicine

RestoredAccordion avatar
RestoredAccordion
·
·
Download

Start Quiz

Study Flashcards

10 Questions

What is Ali's temperature in Celsius?

38.7°c

What is Ali's respiratory rate?

20

What is the blood pressure criterion for diagnosing hypertension?

SBP: 140mmHg and DBP: 90 mmHg

What is the correct management for Ali's condition?

Prescribe antibiotic for 10 days and instruct the patient to complete the full course

Why does the patient not need referral?

Because the patient has no medical problem and does not take any medication regularly

When should antibiotics be provided to children with AOM?

If the infection worsens or fails to improve within 24-48 hours

What is a characteristic of hypertensive emergency?

Acute rise in blood pressure with evidence of acute end-organ dysfunction

What is the definition of resistant hypertension?

Blood pressure above goal despite adherence to a combination of at least 3 optimally dosed antihypertensive medications with different mechanisms of action

Why is hypertensive urgency a concern?

Because it can lead to acute end-organ dysfunction

What category of blood pressure does Ali's blood pressure fall into?

Elevated blood pressure

Study Notes

History Taking

  • Confidentiality and respect for patient privacy are essential
  • Effective questioning techniques include:
    • Simple and clear questions
    • Avoiding medical terms
    • Open, leading, and direct questions
    • Summarizing questions

Complete History Taking

Personal History

  • Full name
  • Age
  • Sex
  • Address
  • Marital status
  • Occupation

Chief Complaint

  • The main reason for visiting a physician
  • Recorded in the patient's own words

Present History

  • Elaboration on the chief complaint in detail
  • Associated symptoms in chronological order
  • Negative information included to exclude other possibilities
  • System review:
    • Respiratory system
    • Cardiovascular system
    • Gastrointestinal system
    • General system

Past History

  • Medical problems (e.g., heart attack, asthma, diabetes)
  • Past surgical/operation history
  • History of trauma/accidents

Family History

  • Previous similar illnesses in the family (e.g., hereditary diseases)

Psycho-Social History

  • Smoking history
  • Drinking history
  • Occupation
  • Education background
  • History of psychiatric disease

Other Relevant History

  • Gynaecological/obstetric history (if female)
  • Immunization history (if a small child)
  • Travel and sexual history (if STI or infectious disease)

Patient-Centred Method

  • Greater patient satisfaction
  • Greater doctor satisfaction
  • Better patient adherence
  • Improved patient outcomes
  • Higher quality of self-reporting
  • Fewer malpractice claims
  • Positive impact on healthcare utilization costs
  • Greater physician detection

Clinical Approach

History

  • Relevant information gained from the patient

Examination

  • General examination including vital signs

Investigation

  • Only relevant investigations requested

Diagnosis

  • Based on previous steps

Comprehensive Management

  • Including health education, non-pharmacological and pharmacological management

Follow-up

  • To assess patient compliance and degree of improvement

Importance of History Taking

  • Essential skill for decision making
  • Useful for making a diagnosis before performing a physical examination

Acute Otitis Media (AOM)

  • Management:
    • Watching and waiting for children with non-severe AOM
    • Antibiotics provided for severe cases or worsening symptoms
    • Referral for severe systemic infection, recurrent AOM, or failure to improve

Hypertension

  • Persistent elevation of blood pressure:
    • ≥ 140 systolic and ≥ 90 diastolic
    • Categories of BP in adults:
      • Normal BP
      • Elevated BP
      • Hypertension (stage 1 and 2)
      • Resistant hypertension
      • Hypertensive urgency
      • Hypertensive emergency
  • Called a silent killer due to its contribution to cardiovascular risk

This quiz assesses your knowledge of taking a complete medical history, including personal history, chief complaint, and present history. Learn how to ask effective questions and respect patient privacy.

Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards

Convert your notes into interactive study material.

Get started for free

More Quizzes Like This

Medical History Taking
18 questions

Medical History Taking

WellRunSaxophone avatar
WellRunSaxophone
Medical History Taking
10 questions
Medical History Taking
25 questions

Medical History Taking

CommodiousNaïveArt avatar
CommodiousNaïveArt
Use Quizgecko on...
Browser
Browser