Guides
Taking a history
Short guides to the structure of a patient history and the questions to ask, for the wards and the OSCE.
How to take a medical history: a step-by-step guide
The structure of a complete patient history, from the chief complaint to the review of systems, with the questions to ask at each step and the mistakes to avoid.
OSCE history-taking checklist
A checklist for history-taking stations in the OSCE: what examiners look for at each stage, from the introduction to the summary and differential diagnosis.
OPQRST, OLDCARTS and SOCRATES: taking a pain history
How to use the OPQRST, OLDCARTS and SOCRATES mnemonics to take a pain history, with example questions for each letter and what the answers can tell you.
Chest pain history: questions to ask and red flags
How to take a chest pain history: the questions to ask, the features that separate cardiac, aortic, pulmonary and other causes, and the red flags not to miss.
Abdominal pain history: questions to ask by location
How to take an abdominal pain history: the questions to ask, what the location and character of the pain suggest, the gynecologic and bowel history, and the red flags.
Shortness of breath history: questions to ask
How to take a history of shortness of breath (dyspnea): how fast it came on, the associated symptoms that point to the heart or the lungs, and how to measure how limited the patient is.
Headache history: red flags and how to tell the types apart
How to take a headache history: the questions to ask, the features of migraine, tension-type and cluster headache, and the red flags that suggest a secondary cause.
How to present a patient: the oral case presentation
How to give an oral case presentation on rounds: the order to follow, how to write a one-liner, what to include and leave out, and how to present an assessment and plan.