A. Outline of case record


1. Biographical data Biographical information of patient should include his full name, age (date of birth), sex, race, occupation, nationality, marital status and permanent home address. Also, the date of admission, the time at which you took the history, the source of history and estimate of reliability should be involved. 2. chief complaint The chief complaint consists of main symptom(s) and duration. It should constitute in a few simple words the main reasons why the patient consulted doctor and should be state as nearly as possible in the patient’s own wards. In general, the chief complaint should include age, sex, complaint, and duration of the complaint. It should no included diagnostic terms or disease entities. For example:” This 70-year old man has had short breath for a week.”



7. Marital history It includes data concerning the health of mate, sexual adjustment, the number of children and their Physical status, and the general social adjustment within the family. 8. Menstrual history ( for female patients) Age of onset, interval between periods, duration, amount and character of flow, concomitant symptoms, date of last menstruation, age of menopause. 9. Childbearing (reproductive) history Age and date of pregnancy(ies) and childbirth(s). Date of artificial or natural abortions, stillbirths, operative delivery, puerperal fever. Method of family planning, the possible factors of infertility (also for male patients).
How to make a good history record

When creating a record, you do more than simply make a list of what the patient has told you and what you have found on examination. You must review your data, organize them, evaluate the importance and relevance of each item, and construct a clear, concise, yet comprehensive report.
3. History of present illness (HPI) The history of present ill ness should be a well-organized, sequentially developed elaboration of his chief complaint(s) on its various characteristics: ①date of onset, ②character of complaint, ③mode of onset, course and duration, ④ location, ⑤relationship to other symptoms, bodily function and activities, ⑥exacerbation and remissions, and ⑦effect of treatment. 4. Past history (PH) It should include a review of all past ill nesses, surgical procedures, and injuries, and allergy history (medicine, food), which are particularly related to the present illness.
How to make a good history record

1. Order is imperative 2. Keep items of history in the history 3. Describe specifically any pertinent negative information 4. Data not recorded are data lost 5. Use short words instead of long and probably fancier ones when they mean the same thing 6. Be objective 7. You should write the record as soon as possible
Importance of history record


1. Diagnosis and treatment purpose An accurate, clear, well organized record reflects and facilitates sound clinical thinking. It leads to good communication among the many professionals who participate in caring for the patient 2. Teaching and research purpose 3. Medicolegal purposes



10. Family history (FH) The health status of the patient’s family (mother, father, siblings and children) and if died, the age and cause of death should be recorded, such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, obesity, allergic disorders, coronary artery disease and mental illness. 11. Physical examination (PE) The recording of Physical examination should follow a logical sequence as follows: vital signs, general status, skin, nodes, head, neck, chest, lungs, heart and blood vessels, abdomen, genitalia, rectum, spine and extremities, nervous reflexes. 12. Laboratory tests and instrumental examination The findings of them onkly serve to confirm what you have found on history and Physical examination. The routine laboratory studies include blood, urine and stool tests, electrolytes, X-rays and ECG.



5. Review of system (ROS) The purpose of sys tem review is twofold: a thorough evaluation and a double check prevent omission of significant data relative to the present illness. The review is a comprehensive account of all complaints referable to each body system progressing in a logical manner from the head toward the feet, including respiratory system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, Urinary system, hemopoietic system, endocrine system, nervous system and skeletal system. 6. Personal history (social and occupational history) It includes personal habits (smoking, alcohol drinking), business life, sex life, occupation (exposure to certain irritating agents), condition of work.