Medical history

"To evaluate the relative importance of the medical history, the physical examination, and laboratory investigations in the diagnosis and management of medical outpatients some physicians recorded their diagnosis and a prediction of the method of management after reading the patient's referral letter, again after taking the history, and again after performing the physical examination. These diagnoses and predictions were compared with the diagnosis and method of management which had been adopted two months after the patient's initial attendance. A diagnosis that agreed with the one finally accepted was made after reading the referral letter and taking the history in 66 out of 80 new patients; the physical examination was useful in only seven patients, and the laboratory investigations in a further seven. In only one of six patients in whom the physician was unable to make any diagnosis after taking the history and examining the patient did laboratory investigations lead to a positive diagnosis."

"Giving Your Medical HistoryThis is often the most important part of the medical visit for you and your doctor. It is necessary in helping the doctor make a correct diagnosis. Depending on how well your doctor knows you, there may be a few questions concerning your recent health and well-being, or it may be necessary to take a complete history starting from the beginning. You may find yourself annoyed by all the questions that allow only "yes" of "no" answers. Being curt may be useful to the doctor for certain parts of the medical history. Still, all the problems in the doctor-patient relationship and communication, which are the subject of so much interest, research, and teaching, do influence how effective the medical history taking will be. On both sides of the equation, good communication skills will result in a better medical history."