Medical History Taking Quiz Part 1

🩺 Medical History Taking Quiz

For medical students & healthcare professionals

— Bidouillé par Ret —

Work in twos or threes. The idea is to help each other and explain to each other.

CC	Chief Complaint	HPI	History of Present Illness
PMH	Past Medical History	Meds	Medication
FH	Family History	SH	Social History

1. What is the best order for taking a medical history?

CC → HPI → PMH → Meds → Allergies → FH → SH → ROS HPI → PMH → CC → ROS → PMH ROS → CC → SH → HPI

2. Select ALL that represent premature diagnostic closure:

Writing "Anginal pain" instead of patient's words Asking "Burning pain, right?" Documenting Chief Complaint verbatim Thinking gastroesophageal reflux disease in minute 1

3. In S.O.C.R.A.T.E.S, which letter explores pain that travels?

O R S A E

4. Which is NOT part of OLDCARTS?

Onset Location Area Timing

5. Select ALL red flags in back pain:

Weight loss Fever Mild strain after lifting pillow Neurological deficit

6. Correct the sentence: “The patient is having chest pain since two days.”

7. Choose the grammatically correct question:

Since when do you have this pain? Since when have you had this pain? From when are you having this pain? Starting when are you having this pain?

8. Correct (by writing the correct word only):
Patient is taking medicines irregular.

9. Which is the best clinical phrasing?

Patient complaining of severe pain Patient reports severe pain Patient having severe pain Patient crying about severe pain Patient is lying about their pain

10. First 60–90 seconds rule:

Interrupt early Let patient speak freely Help patient express themselves Lead patient's responses

11. Write a proper Chief Complaint from:
The patient says he has had fever and cough for three days.

12. Which question is leading?

How would you describe the pain? It is sharp, isn't it?

13. Proper allergy clarification question:

Are you allergic? What happens when you take it?

14. Match the verb with the correct noun: administer →

antibiotics an appointment a cold

15. analyse →
a sample
the pain
a baby

16. prescribe →
infections
an improvement
a drug

17. He suffered a ______ of coughing during the night. (p/8)

18. She went into a coma after an ______ of heroin. (o/8)

19. He had a ______ of fever from the tropics. (r/10)

20. Obesity ______ in her family. (r/4)

21. The doctor gave him an ______ to relieve the pain. (i/9)

22. She was advised to reduce her ______ of sugar. (i/6)

23. The parents gave their ______ for the son to undergo surgery. (c/7)

24. She broke out in a ______. (r/4)

25. Chickenpox →
rubella
varicella
rubeola

26. A cold →
influenza
coryza
pertussis

27. Hay fever →
allergic rhinitis
rubella
rubeola

28. Choose correctly:
“I ______ this pain for three days.”
had
have had
am having

29. Choose correctly:
“He ______ vomiting since morning.”
has been
had
was having

30. Correct the sentence:
She has fever yesterday.

31. Correct the sentence:
I am taking this medicine since two weeks.

32. Best documentation:
Patient thinks they're suffering from headache
Patient reports headache
Patient reports headachings

33. Best phrasing:
Patient denies chest pain
Patient says no chest pain
Patient is lying about chest pain

34. Why are “pertinent negatives” important?
To shorten history
To rule out dangerous diagnoses

35. What does timeline help you see?
Disease evolution
Patient emotions
Patient's time to leave

36. Identify the leading question:
Can you describe the pain?
The pain is burning, right?
Can you tell me why you're here today?

37. Rash and swelling after penicillin is:
Side effect
Allergy

38. Smoking should be recorded in:
Number of cigarettes
Pack-years
Number of cartons per week

39. Silence after an answer is useful because:
It saves time
Patients often add key details
You can think of more difficult questions

40. Choose correctly:
“He ______ a cough last night.”
had
has had

41. Choose correctly:
“He ______ a cough for three days.”
has had
had

42. Weight loss + night pain suggests:
Muscle strain
Serious pathology

43. Chest pain checklist differs from abdominal pain because:
Each complaint has its own pattern
Same questions apply

44. Good history taking is:
Conversation
Information architecture

45. Correct the sentence:
He is diabetic since 5 years.

46. Correct the sentence:
She has taken paracetamol yesterday.

47. Write the Chief Complaint:
Patient says: “My back has been hurting for a week.”

48. ROS is mainly a:
Safety net
Full interview

49. Thinking of diagnosis too early causes:
Confirmation bias
Better speed

50. After each case, you should ask:
What did I forget?
Was the patient difficult?

51. Best final question to patient:
That’s all
Anything else you think I should know?

52. The best test of a good history is:
It is long
A senior clinician needs no more questions