Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Year 3 - Exams > History Taking > Flashcards

History Taking Flashcards

1
Q

Pain questions

A

SOCRATES

  1. Site
  2. Onset
  3. Character
  4. Radiation
  5. Associated symptoms
  6. Time frame
  7. Exacerbating/alleviating factors
  8. Severity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Tiredness questions and Ddx

A
  1. What do you mean by tiredness?
  2. How are you sleeping?
  3. How does it affect your lifestyle?
  4. Anaemia, CHF (Do get short of breath on exertion?)
  5. Hypothyroidism (Constipation, weight gain, cold intolerance)
  6. Depression?
  7. Diabetes (Do you need to go to the bathroom/drink frequently?)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Headache Ddx

A
  1. SOCRATES
  2. Meningitis (Rash/fever/neck stiffness)
  3. Temporal arteritis (visual problems, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness)
  4. Glaucoma (visual problems, red eyes, halos around lights)
  5. Neurological systems review
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Weakness Ddx

A
  1. Characterise (what do you mean by weakness?)
  2. Pattern of weakness (where are you weak?)
  3. Neurological systems review
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Fall questions

A
  1. Presymptoms/warning symptoms/
  2. What were you doing at the time?
  3. Did you lose consciousness? How long?
  4. Do you have any pain?
  5. Have you fallen before?
  6. How often do you fall?
  7. Cardiorespiratory, neurological systems review
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Shortness of breath

A
  1. Orthopnea
  2. Nocturnal
  3. Diurnal/seasonal variation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Cough

A
  1. Non/productive - sputum/haemoptysis
  2. Triggers
  3. Nocturnal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Palpitations

A
  1. Fast/slow
  2. Irregular/regular
  3. Dizziness
  4. Loss of consciousness
  5. Nausea
  6. Sweating
  7. Dyspnea
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sputum

A
  1. Volume
  2. Frequency
  3. Colour
  4. Consistency
  5. Blood
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Haemoptysis

A
  1. Volume
  2. Frequency
  3. Fresh/altered
  4. Associated sputum
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting

A
  1. Volume
  2. Frequency
  3. Colour
  4. Consistency
  5. Blood
  6. Bile (if vomiting)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Dysphagia

A
  1. Solids -> liquids
  2. Constant/intermittent
  3. Progressive?
  4. Odynophagia?
  5. Weight loss?
  6. Neurological defects
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Dyspepsia

A
  1. SOCRATES
  2. Weight loss
  3. Melaena
  4. Swallowing difficulty
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Rash

A
  1. Duration
  2. Progression
  3. Frequency
  4. Location
  5. Size/shape
  6. Itchy/painful
  7. Exacerbating/alleviating factors
  8. Rheumatological systems review
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Back pain

A
  1. SOCRATES
  2. Stiffness?
  3. Deformity
  4. Sciatica
  5. Incontinence
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Joint pain/stiffness/swelling

A
  1. Time of day
  2. Duration
  3. Better with exercise
  4. Sleep disturbance
  5. Loss of function
17
Q

Bone/tissue injury

A
  1. SOCRATES
  2. Stiffness/swelling
  3. Movement restriction
  4. Weight bearing
  5. Locking/giving way
  6. Weakness/numbness/paresthesia
  7. Neurological/rheumatological systems review
18
Q

Systems review - general

A
  1. Fever
  2. Night sweats
  3. Weight loss
  4. Fatigue
  5. Rash/bruising
19
Q

Systems Review - Neurological

A
  1. Falls
  2. Headache
  3. Dizziness
  4. Weakness
  5. Incontinence
  6. Numbness
  7. Tingling
20
Q

Systems review - ENT

A
  1. Hearing loss
  2. Tinnitus
  3. Rhinorrhoea
  4. Epistaxis
  5. Sore throat
  6. Odd operatic
21
Q

Systems review - Cardiorespiratory

A
  1. Chest pain
  2. Palpitations
  3. SoB
  4. Cough
  5. Leg swelling
22
Q

Gastrointestinal

A
  1. Appetite change
  2. Dysphagia
  3. Nausea/vomiting
  4. Indigestion
  5. Abdominal pain
  6. Change of bowel habits
  7. Blood/mucus in stool
23
Q

Systems review - urology

A
  1. How often do you need to pass urine
  2. How much urine do you pass
  3. Do you get up at night to go toilet
  4. Dysuria?
  5. Haematuria
  6. Hesitancy, poor flow (men)
  7. Incomplete emptying (men)
24
Q

Systems review - Rheumatological

A
  1. Joint pain, stiffness, swelling
  2. Ulcers
  3. Rashes
  4. Hair loss
25
Q

System review - Orthopaedic

A
  1. Joint pain,stiffness, weight bearing
  2. Bone pain, stiffness, weight bearing
  3. Mechanical locking, giving way
  4. Weakness
  5. Numbness, paresthesia.
26
Q

Past medical history

A
  1. Longstanding medical conditions (asks specifically if risk factors for Ddx)
  2. Past operations

For each, ask when dx, treatment and how well controlled.

27
Q

Drug history

A
  1. Medications (dose + frequency)

2. Allergies (+adverse reaction)

28
Q

Social history

A
  1. Smoking
  2. Alcohol
  3. Living situation
  4. Occupation
  5. Travel
29
Q

Family history

A
  1. Diseases that run in the family

Ask specifically for Ddx

30
Q

Time frame questions

A

When did it start?
Acute or gradual onset?
Intermittent or continuous?

Year 3 - Exams (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions