Al HaYaT MedicosHistory Taking Simplified, part of the Al HaYaT Simplified Series, is a step-by-step guide to taking a complete, focused medical history. A good history leads to the diagnosis in most patients; these notes show you how to structure it so that nothing important is missed.
They are especially helpful for OSCE history stations, clinical long cases and your first months on the wards. For a free summary, read our history taking checklist article.
What these notes cover
- Introduction, consent and building rapport
- Presenting complaint and history of presenting complaint
- Using SOCRATES to explore pain
- Past medical, drug, family and social history
- Systems review
- Ideas, concerns and expectations, and summarising
Who they are for
Medical students and junior doctors who want a clear structure for history taking.
Read the notes
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Free article
History Taking: A Step-by-Step Checklist for Medical Students — A clear, repeatable structure for taking a medical history in OSCEs and on the wards, including SOCRATES for pain and ideas, concerns and expectations.
More from the Simplified Series
- CT Scan Interpretation SimplifiedMedical students, house officers and doctors who want a simple starting point for CT interpretation.
- ECG Basics SimplifiedMedical students, house officers and anyone who wants a clear, simple start with ECGs.
- Bone Tumours SimplifiedFinal-year MBBS students and doctors revising orthopaedics and surgery.
- Clinical Examinations SimplifiedMedical students from clinical years onwards, and house officers preparing for clinical exams.
Disclaimer
For education and exam preparation only. This is not medical advice and must not be used to diagnose or treat patients. Always follow current clinical guidelines and the advice of qualified senior colleagues. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us.
Prepared by the Al HaYaT Medicos team.