Hover over the patient data items below to see important details, like helpful tips and sample questions.
Found:
Shows something that you discovered.
Available:
Shows something that you can discover.
Category Scored Items:
Experts chose these topics as important parts of a thorough interview with the patient.
Patient Data Not Scored:
A mix of open and closed questions will give better patient information. The following details are facts about the patient’s case.
Introduction and Medical History:
Finding:
Confirmed reason for the visit.
Finding:
Says they need a yearly checkup.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking why the patient came in helps identify their main concern.
Example Question:
What’s the reason for your visit today?
Finding:
Asked about past health history.
Finding:
Says they don’t have any health problems.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking broadly about past health might get a more complete answer.
Example Question:
What health issues do you have?
Medications:
Finding:
Asked about general medicine use.
Finding:
Says they sometimes take ibuprofen.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking about medications might not cover everything. Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Example Question:
What medicines do you take?
Finding:
Says they don’t take prescription meds.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking about prescribed medicines might reveal daily or as-needed meds.
Example Question:
Do you take prescribed medicines?
Finding:
Only takes ibuprofen, no other over-the-counter meds mentioned.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking specifically about over-the-counter meds might give a clearer answer.
Example Question:
Do you take any other over-the-counter meds?
Finding:
Asked why they use ibuprofen.
Finding:
Uses it for menstrual cramps.
(Found)
Pro Tip: It’s important to know why a patient uses any medicine.
Example Question:
Why do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Asked how often and how much ibuprofen they take.
Finding:
Takes it monthly, two pills each time.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Knowing how often a patient uses a medicine is important. A broader question might get more details.
Example Question:
How often do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Usually takes two doses on the first day of their period.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Knowing how often a patient uses a medicine is important.
Example Question:
How many days do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Not sure about the dosage, but they’re “regular strength.”
(Found)
Pro Tip: Knowing the dosage of a medicine is important.
Example Question:
What dose of ibuprofen do you take?
Finding:
Last took ibuprofen two weeks ago.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Knowing how often a patient uses a medicine is important. Asking about the last time they took it might show how they use it regularly.
Example Question:
When did you last take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Asked about supplements.
Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Finding:
Says they don’t take vitamins.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking specifically about vitamins might give a clear answer.
Example Question:
Do you take any vitamins?
Finding:
Says they don’t take herbal supplements.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking specifically about herbal supplements might give a clear answer.
Example Question:
Do you take any herbal supplements?
Allergies:
Finding:
Asked about allergies.
Finding:
Allergic to peanuts.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Starting with a broad question is a good way to begin.
Example Question:
What allergies do you have?
Finding:
Asked about symptoms of their peanut allergy.
Finding:
Developed it at age 4.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Knowing when an allergy started is important.
Example Question:
How old were you when you first had a reaction to peanuts?
Finding:
Symptoms include itching in the mouth and throat.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Knowing the symptoms of an allergy is important.
Example Question:
What are the symptoms of your peanut allergy?
Finding:
Asked how severe their peanut allergy is.
Finding:
Says it’s not severe.
(Found)
Pro Tip: Knowing the severity of an allergy is important.
Example Question:
How severe do you think your peanut allergy is?
Finding:
Says they don’t have breathing problems after exposure.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking about life-threatening reactions to allergies, like breathing problems, is important.
Example Question:
Do you have trouble breathing when you eat peanuts?
Finding:
Says they’ve never been hospitalized for a reaction to peanuts.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking about past hospital visits related to allergies shows how serious the allergy is.
Example Question:
Have you ever been in the hospital because of a reaction to peanuts?
Finding:
Asked how they treat their peanut allergy.
Management of Endocrine Conditions Maureen Hopkins Shadow health Sick Visit
Finding:
They use Benadryl.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking about treating allergies shows how well they manage it.
Example Question:
How do you treat your peanut allergy?
Finding:
Says they avoid peanuts and peanut oil.
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking about avoiding allergens shows how careful they are.
Example Question:
How do you avoid eating peanuts?
Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Finding:
Says they
Hover over the Patient Data items below to reveal important information, including Pro Tips and Example Questions.
-
Found:
Indicates an item that you found.
-
Available:
Indicates an item that is available to be found.
Category
Scored Items
Experts selected these topics as essential components of a strong, thorough interview with this patient.
Patient Data
Not Scored
A combination of open and closed questions will yield better patient data. The following details are facts of the patient’s case. Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Introduction and Medical History
- Finding:Established reason for visit
- Finding:Reports needing an annual physical
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking the patient’s reason for their visit is a practical way to establish a chief complaint.Example Question:
What brings you in today?
- Finding:Asked about past medical history
- Finding:Denies medical conditions
(Found)
Pro Tip: A broad question about the patient’s past medical history may prompt a more comprehensive answer.Example Question:
What medical conditions do you have?
Medications
Finding:
Asked about general medication use
Finding:
Reports taking occasional ibuprofen
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient what medications they take may prompt a broader response that does not capture a complete picture of their medication use. Rachel Adler conversation concept labExample Question:
What medications do you take?
Finding:
Denies taking prescription medication
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking the patient what medications are prescribed to him or her may prompt the patient to report medications taken daily or on an as-needed basis.Example Question:
Do you take any prescription medications?
Finding:
Only OTC medication is ibuprofen (no others reported)
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking specifically about a patient’s use of the over-the-counter medications may prompt a more definitive response and yield greater insight into their medication use.Example Question:
Do you take any other over the counter medications?
Finding:
Followed up about reason for ibuprofen use
Finding:
Takes ibuprofen to relieve menstrual cramps
(Found)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the reasons it is used.Example Question:
For what reason do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Followed up on frequency and dosage of ibuprofen use
Finding:
Takes ibuprofen monthly
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the frequency of its use. A broader question may prompt a broader response from the patient.Example Question:
How often do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Takes 2 at a time
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the quantity of its use.Example Question:
How many ibuprofen do you take at a time?
Finding:
Typically takes 2 doses on first day of period
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the frequency of its use.Example Question:
How many days do you take ibuprofen?
Finding:
Unsure of the dosage, but reports they are “regular strength”
(Found)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the quantity of its use.Example Question:
What dosage of ibuprofen do you take?- Finding:Last dose was 2 weeks ago
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports taking any type of medication, it is important to gather information about the frequency of its use. Asking specifically about the last time the patient took the medication may prompt a response that speaks to the medications day to day use.Example Question:
When did you last take Advil?
- Finding:Asked about supplements
- Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
- Finding:Denies vitamins
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient a specific question about their use of vitamins will prompt a definitive answer and provide insight into their supplement use.Example Question:
Do you take any vitamins? - Finding:Denies herbal supplements
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient a specific question about their use of herbal supplements will prompt a definitive answer and provide insight into their supplement use.Example Question:
Do you take any herbal supplements?
Allergies
- Finding:Asked about general allergies
- Finding:Reports allergy to peanuts
(Found)
Pro Tip: Beginning an interview with a broad question is a good entry into the topic.Example Question:
What allergies do you have?
- Finding:Followed up on peanut allergy symptoms
- Finding:Discovered at age 4
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it is important to establish its onset.Example Question:
How old were you when had your first reaction to peanuts? - Finding:Symptoms are itchy mouth and throat
(Found)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it’s necessary to determine the type and extent of his or her allergic reaction. For example, if a patient reports a bee-sting allergy, the provider must determine whether the patient has experienced localized allergic reactions or anaphylaxis.Example Question:
What are the symptoms of your peanut allergy?
- Finding:Followed up on peanut allergy severity
- Finding:Describes allergy as not severe
(Found)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it is important ascertain the severity of their reaction to the allergen. A broad question about this topic, while a good starting point, may prompt a broad response that lacks the specifics of the reaction type.Example Question:
How severe do you think your peanut allergy is?
Finding:
Denies breathing problems after exposure
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient about specific life-threatening reactions to their allergy, such as breathing problems, will prompt a response that characterizes the severity of the allergy.Example Question:
Do you experience breathing problems when you eat peanuts?
Finding:
Denies hospitalization for reaction to peanuts
(Available)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient about past, allergy-related hospitalizations will prompt a response that characterizes the severity of the allergy.Example Question:
Have you ever been hospitalized for a reaction to peanuts?
Finding:
Followed up on peanut allergy treatment
Finding:
Treated with Benadryl
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it is important to ask about the patient’s ability and willingness to treat allergic reactions. The patient’s response may provide insight into their health literacy and impact the allergy has had on their daily life.Example Question:
How do you treat your peanut allergy?
Finding:
Reports avoiding peanuts and peanut oil
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it is important to ask about the patient’s ability and willingness to avoid the allergen. The patient’s response may provide insight into their health literacy and impact the allergy has had on their daily life.Example Question:
How do you avoid eating peanuts?- Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Finding:
Denies use of epi-pen
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports an allergy, it is important to ask about access to specific resources that may treat an allergic reaction in the event of an emergency.Example Question:
Do you have an epi pen?
Finding:
Asked about medication allergies
Finding:
Denies known medication allergies
(Available)
Pro Tip: While general questions about allergies may elicit important information, the patient may not spontaneously report all allergies. For example, medication allergies may be overlooked by the patient because he or she considers adverse reactions to medications separate from more common allergies, such as hay fever or allergic reactions to animal dander. In addition, if the patient experienced an allergic reaction to medication long ago, he or she may not immediately recall it. Therefore, it is important to ask specifically about medication allergies.Example Question:
Are you allergic to any medications?
Finding:
Asked about other allergies
Finding:
Denies latex allergy
(Available)
Pro Tip: While general questions about allergies may elicit important information, the patient may not spontaneously report all allergies. For example, a latex allergy may be overlooked by a patient who rarely comes into contact with latex, or who has only experienced a mild allergic reaction. Therefore, it is important to ask specifically about latex allergy.Example Question:
Are you allergic to latex?
Finding:
Denies food allergies or sensitivities (other than peanuts)
(Available)
Pro Tip: While general questions about allergies may elicit important information, the patient may not spontaneously report all allergies. For example, a food allergy may be overlooked by a patient who hasn’t experienced an allergy to things they eat, or to a patient who has already reported known food allergies. To form a more complete picture, it is important to ask specifically about food allergies.Example Question:
Do you have any food allergies?
Finding:
Denies known environmental allergies
(Found)
Pro Tip: While general questions about allergies may elicit important information, the patient may not spontaneously report all allergies. For example, seasonal allergies may be overlooked by the patient because he or she considers them to be very common or harmless. In addition, if the patient is not currently experiencing an allergic reaction, this information may slip his or her mind. Therefore, it is important to ask specifically about environmental allergies.Example Question:
Do you have any environmental allergies?
Substance Use
Finding:
Asked about tobacco and nicotine use
Finding:
Reports “some” tobacco use
(Found)
Pro Tip: Tobacco use in all its forms carries risk of adverse health consequences, so it is critical to ask your patient about tobacco use during a health history interview.Example Question:
What tobacco products have you used?
Finding:
Followed up on type of tobacco or nicotine
Finding:
Reports smoking cigarettes
(Found)
Pro Tip: Smoking is a significant risk factor for many diseases and conditions including lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. Therefore, it is essential to ask patients about smoking and other tobacco use during a health history interview.Example Question:
What do you smoke?
Finding:
Denies other forms of smoking tobacco such as cigars and pipes
(Available)
Pro Tip: Smoking is a significant risk factor for many diseases and conditions including lung cancer, emphysema, and heart disease. Furthermore, different forms of smoked tobacco may carry specific health risks; it is important to ask about other types of smoking tobacco to form a full picture of the patient’s smoking patterns. Rachel Adler conversation concept lab.Example Question:
Do you smoke cigars?
Finding:
Denies using chew or smokeless forms of tobacco
(Available)
Pro Tip: Smokeless tobacco also carries the risk of adverse health consequences for users, therefore it is important to ask a patient specifically about these products.Example Question:
Have you ever tried chewing tobacco?
Finding:
Denies vaping or e-cigarettes
(Available)
Pro Tip: While less is known about the specific health consequences of e-cigarettes and personal vaporizers for tobacco use, it is important to to ask a patient about these products to form a more complete picture of their tobacco use patterns.Example Question:
Have you ever tried an electronic cigarette?
Finding:
Followed up on patterns of tobacco use
Finding:
Reports smoking “really not very many” cigarettes
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports smoking, it is important to determine the quantity of the patient’s tobacco use in order to assess the patient’s risk level for associated health problems, and also to gauge the degree of the patient’s dependence.Example Question:
How much do you smoke?
Finding:
Has smoked 3 times (one cigarette each time)
(Found)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports smoking, it is important to determine the frequency and duration of the patient’s tobacco use in order to assess the patient’s risk level for associated health problems, and also to gauge the degree of the patient’s dependence.Example Question:
How many times have you smoked?
Finding:
Explored patient’s perception of tobacco use
Finding:
Reports understanding of health impacts of smoking
(Available)
Pro Tip: When a patient reports smoking, assessing their knowledge about tobacco use can enable providers to engage in relevant conversation with the patient, and to offer helpful education.Example Question:
Can you tell me what you know about the health impacts of smoking?
Finding:
Reports negative experiences with smoking
(Available)
Pro Tip: In an adolescent patient, evaluating his or her attitude towards smoking can enable the provider to offer relevant support and education. For example, if the patient communicates that he or she views smoking as a means of relaxing, a provider can offer education and strategies for achieving relaxation in healthy ways.Example Question:
How do you feel about smoking?
Finding:
Explored reasons that patient experimented with smoking
Finding:
Describes peer pressure related to smoking
(Found)
Pro Tip: When an adolescent patient reports smoking, evaluating the circumstances and social pressure involved may help the provider understand the patient’s motive for smoking. Addressing these motives directly, and exploring their origins, can be essential components of patient education regarding smoking.Example Question:
Do your friends encourage you to smoke?
Finding:
Reports that she will avoid smoking in the future
(Available)
Pro Tip: When an adolescent patient reports smoking, evaluating the circumstances and social pressure involved may help the provider understand the patient’s motive for smoking. Addressing these motives directly, and exploring their origins, can be essential components of patient education regarding smoking.Example Question:
What will you say if your friends asked you to smoke again? Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
Finding:
Asked about alcohol use
Finding:
Denies alcohol use
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking direct opening questions about alcohol consumption is more likely to prompt a definitive response from a patient.Example Question:
Have you ever tried alcohol?
Finding:
Denies being around friends who consume alcohol
(Available)
Pro Tip: When asking an adolescent patient about alcohol consumption, it is important to evaluate the circumstances and social pressure involved. Addressing these motives directly, and exploring their origins, can be essential components of patient education regarding drinking.Example Question:
Do your friends ever drink alcohol?
Finding:
Reports alcohol consumed by parents at home
(Available)
Pro Tip: When asking an adolescent patient about alcohol consumption, it is important to evaluate the circumstances and social pressure involved. Since parents serve as direct models of adult alcohol consumption, asking about drinking patterns in the home may prove insightful.Example Question:
Does anyone at home drink alcohol?
Finding:
Reports that parents drink “a glass of wine at dinner”
(Available)
Pro Tip: When asking an adolescent patient about alcohol consumption, it is important to evaluate the circumstances and social pressure involved. Since parents serve as direct models of adult alcohol consumption, asking about drinking patterns in the home may prove insightful. A broad question about the quantity of alcohol use in the home is a good starting point.Example Question:
How much alcohol do your parents drink at home?
Finding:
Asked about drug use
Finding:
Denies previous drug use
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking direct opening questions about drug use is more likely to prompt a definitive response from a patient.Example Question:
Have you ever experimented with drugs?
Finding:
Denies being around friends who use drugs
- Rachel Adler conversation concept lab
