1. State the purpose of the complete heath history. 2. List and define the critical characteristics used to explore each symptoms the patient identifies. 3. Define the elements of the health history; reason for seeking care; present health state or present illness; past history, family history; review of systems; functional patterns of living. Reply answering the questions above using APA format.
1. The purpose of obtaining a complete health history is to gather comprehensive and accurate information about a patient’s health status. This includes information about their current health concerns, past medical history, family medical history, and any relevant lifestyle and environmental factors. By gathering this information, healthcare providers can assess the patient’s overall health, identify any potential risk factors or underlying conditions, and develop an appropriate plan of care.
2. In the process of exploring each symptom that a patient identifies, healthcare providers rely on critical characteristics to help guide their assessment and diagnosis. These critical characteristics are specific signs and symptoms that are associated with certain health conditions. By identifying and understanding these characteristics, healthcare providers can narrow down the potential causes of a patient’s symptoms and determine the most appropriate diagnostic tests or interventions.
For example, when assessing a patient with chest pain, critical characteristics may include the location and radiation of the pain, its intensity and duration, any associated symptoms such as shortness of breath or sweating, and any aggravating or relieving factors. These critical characteristics can help differentiate between potential causes of chest pain, such as cardiac issues (e.g., angina or myocardial infarction) or musculoskeletal problems (e.g., costochondritis or muscle strain).
3. The elements of a health history typically include the following:
a) Reason for seeking care: This refers to the chief complaint or primary reason the patient is seeking medical attention. It may include specific symptoms, concerns, or health issues that the patient wants to address with the healthcare provider.
b) Present health state or present illness: This involves a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s current health status. It includes a detailed description of the patient’s symptoms, the onset and duration of symptoms, any changes in symptoms over time, and any factors that worsen or alleviate the symptoms.
c) Past history: This section encompasses the patient’s past medical history, surgical history, and any relevant past illnesses or health conditions. It also includes information about the patient’s medication use, allergies, immunizations, and any past hospitalizations or significant medical events.
d) Family history: This component focuses on the health history of the patient’s immediate family members, including parents, siblings, and children. It seeks information about any genetic or hereditary conditions that may be relevant to the patient’s current health or risk factors.
e) Review of systems: The review of systems involves a structured assessment of all body systems to identify any potential health issues. It includes questions about symptoms related to each body system, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, endocrine, and reproductive systems. This helps to identify potential signs and symptoms that may contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the patient’s health status.
f) Functional patterns of living: This component assesses the patient’s lifestyle, including occupation, social support, exercise and activity levels, dietary habits, sleep patterns, and substance use. It aims to gather information about the patient’s overall well-being and functioning in various aspects of life to better understand their health and identify any potential risk factors.
In conclusion, obtaining a complete health history is essential for healthcare providers to assess a patient’s health status, identify potential risk factors or underlying conditions, and develop an appropriate plan of care. Critical characteristics are important in exploring each symptom that a patient identifies, as they help guide the assessment and diagnosis process. The elements of a health history include the reason for seeking care, present health state or present illness, past history, family history, review of systems, and functional patterns of living.