Comms exam Flashcards
Name the 12 components of a social history:
- Alcohol
- Sexual history
- Smoking
- Diet
- Recreational drugs
- Living situation
- Occupation
- Stress
- Travel
- Sleep
- Physical activity e.g. exercise
- Wider relationships
What could you ask instead of: “Do you drink much?”?
“Do you drink alcohol?”
“Do you use recreational drugs?”
What could you ask instead of: “Are you married?”?
“Who’s at home with you?”
What could you say instead of: “ We ask all our patients this…”?
“ Can I ask you some more general questions about you and your daily life ?….’
“Can I ask you about…”
What could you say instead of: “what’s your job?”
“Do you work?”
What is ADL an abbreviation for?
Activities of Daily Living
What are the 5 components of ADL?
Personal hygiene Continence Dressing Feeding Ambulation
What is part of the definition of an independent adult?
Can manage activities of daily living
5 questions you could use to enquire about ADL?
Who is at home?
Who helps? Do you have carers / paid carer?
What is the home like? Stairs, bathroom, adaptations
Do you manage to go out – how? Shopping?
How do you …… Is it a struggle?
What are the consequences of alcohol misuse? [10]
- Heart disease
- High BP
- Liver cirrhosis/cancer
- Reduced fertility
- Harm to unborn babies
- Breast cancer in women
- Pancreatitis
- Depression & anxiety
- Cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus or larynx
- Stroke
What questions do you ask everyone about alcohol? [3]
• Do you drink alcohol?
• How much would you say in an average week (or per
day?)
• Is that every week/day?
How to calculate units?
Units = (ABV x volume in ml)/1000
What are the current recommended weekly limits for alcohol?
14 units a week (men & women)
Definition of binge drinking (women)
> 6 units in a single sitting
Definition of binge drinking (men)
> 8 units in a single sitting
Consider alcohol screening when: [4]
- Registering a new patient
- Screening for other conditions
- Managing a chronic disease e.g. diabetes, CHD
- Carrying out a medication review
What are the alcohol assessment questionnaires called?
- FAST (Fast Alcohol Screening Tool)
2. AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test)
What are the health risks of smoking? [12]
- CHD
- Reduced LE
- Asthma
- Ageing & facial wrinkles
- CVD
- Cataracts
- Ulcers
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Periodontal disease
- COPD
- Cancers
- Reduced fertility
What questions should you ask everyone about tobacco use? [6]
- Do you smoke?
- Have you ever smoked?
- How many a day (or amount tobacco) do you smoke?
- Have you always smoked this amount?
- When did you begin smoking?
- Do you vape?
How do you express the amount people have smoked in a lifetime?
Pack-years
How many cigarettes are in one packet?
20
Who should you especially ask about recreational drug use? [6]
- Heavy drinkers
- Smokers
- People who are stressed
- People who are tired
- People with mental health problems
- People with unexplained symptoms
What could you use instead of the terms: “illicit/street/used”
Use of the term “recreational” less judgemental than “illicit” or
“street” and “taken” better than “used
How can you ask about drug use as part of medication history?
D doctor R recreational U user - OTC/alternative G gynaecological pill/contraceptive patch S sensitivities - allergy/intolerance
