HISTORY TAKING
This is the first question you should ask every patient.
What is your chief complaint?
These questions allow detailed patient answers.
Open-ended questions
Name the four basic techniques.
Inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation
Symptom + sign cluster forms what?
Syndrome
Open-ended question example.
Can you describe your symptoms?
These questions can bias the patient.
Leading questions
Which always comes first?
Inspection
Which is more important: history or investigations?
History
This part explores duration, progression, and characteristics.
History of Present Illness
Interrupting the patient before 1 minute leads to what problem?
Loss of important information
In abdominal exam, auscultation is done before what?
Palpation
Why must history always come before investigations?
It guides physical exam and tests
A patient says: “I have chest pain.”
What are the 3 most important clarifying aspects you must ask about immediately?
Onset, character, radiation (accept also severity / associated symptoms)
What is reflective listening?
Repeating/rephrasing patient statements
Why warm hands before palpation?
Prevent muscle guarding
Why should you not jump to diagnosis early?
Anchoring bias
Name 3 components of social history.
Smoking, alcohol, occupation
Why should medical jargon be avoided?
Patient misunderstanding
What is the difference between a sign and a symptom?
Symptom = subjective; sign = objective
What is differential diagnosis?
List of possible diagnoses