Specific questions to ask based on PC

Question 1

Dysphagia

Answer 1

1. Onset and difficulty of swallowing
2. Food or liquids/ if its progressive
3. Aspiration and coughs/ total food intake
4. Neck swelling whilst eating
5. Abdo pain, Change in bowel habits, Vomiting

Question 2

PR bleed

Answer 2

1. Onset and number of episodes
2. Nature of blood, clots? and volume
3. Where blood was noticed (paper, pan?)
4. Change in bowel habits, NV, urinary symptoms
5. Lumps or bumps around anus
6. Straining and compare to normal bowel habits

Question 3

Diarrhoea

Answer 3

1. How does it compare to normal bowel habits
2. How many times they are opening their bowels
3. Consistency and colour and details on blood (clots etc)
4. N+V, tiredness, urinary symptoms, dizziness

Question 4

Chest pain

Answer 4

1. SOCRATES
2. Orthopnoea, parxysmal nocturnal dyspnoea, pillows, orthopnoea, DVT stuff, Sputum and haemoptyisis
3. Risk factors fot VTE events
4. Risk factors for heart disease: Diabetes, high cholestrol, high BP,fhx and previous eventS

Question 5

SOB

Answer 5

1. Always compare what they could do then that they cannot do anymore
2. Cardio resp symptoms: Remember ORTHOPNOEA!
3. Do VTE risk factors
4. Risk factors for cardio resp disease: usual red flags

Question 6

Vomiting

Answer 6

1. Frequency and contents plus severity
2. Bile or blood
3. Abdo, pain, bowel habits, fainting, what triggers it, PR bleed
4. Drinking and foreign travel

Question 7

Abdo pain

Answer 7

1. SOCRATES
2. Urinary symptoms

Question 8

Headaches

Answer 8

1. N+V
2. Neck stiffness
3. Photophobia
4. Rash
5. Auras/ Visual changes

Question 9

Collapse/fall

Answer 9

1. Ask if there was a witness
2. Ask what the patient was doing when they collapsed
3. Aura, palpitations, nausea and chest pains?
4. LOC plus for how long
5. Injury during collapse?
6. Incontinence plus tongue biting
7. Post ictal stuff

Question 10

Memory loss

Answer 10

1. Neuro red flags
2. Head trauma
3. Causes and life events ?
4. Screen for hallucinations and other psych stuff

Question 11

Painful joints

Answer 11

1. Always ask about joint patterns
2. Ask if the patient has noticed any lumps or other swellings
3. Systemic: Rashes, red eyes, dry eyes and mouth, weight loss, diarrhoea, ulcers
4. Back pain
5. Previous episodes

Question 12

Fatigue

Answer 12

1. Always ask about heavy periods
2. PR blood, haematamesis, haematuria
3. Depression and life events
4. Diet

Question 13

Haematuria

Answer 13

1. Number of episodes, onset and progression
2. Extent of blood loss, foul smells?
3. Abdo pain
4. Frequency, dysuria, urgency and nocturia
5. Hesitancy, dribbling and poor stream
6. BACK PAIN FOR PROSTATE CANCER SCREEN!
7. Sexual issues

Question 14

Testicular lump

Answer 14

1. Gynaecomastia (breasts on men)
2. Recent trauma
3. Impotence and sexual dysfunction
4. Skin changes and weight loss?
5. Fhx and social is importnat: Descended testicles?, fhx and infertility

Question 15

LUTS

Answer 15

1. Frequency and nocturia
2. Dribbling and voiding
3. Straining and hesitancy
4. Urgency, incontinence (urge or stress)
5. Abdo pelvic pain
6. Foul smelling urine