Our patients' history is important? why or why not?

Question

is it important to know everything about the patient? why or why not?

Answer 1

Probably the only person who is going to take a full history on a patient is a student. Doctors (or other practitioners) usually do an abbreviated history based on what the chief complaint of the patient is. In their mind they have a differential of possible diagnoses and each answer they get prompts more questions or narrows down the questions that they need to ask throughout the history. It is said that general practitioners will be able to make a diagnosis 80-90% of the time based solely on the history and then a physical exam or further diagnostic testing is used to confirm and/or rule out a diagnosis.

Answer 2

Everything? No, but the history is the biggest part of the exam.  Many times you can diagnose the patient just by talking to them. You still have to do the tests and exams to confirm, but the history is key, which is why it is important to tell the truth to your doc, even if you are shy or embarrassed about something. it is all kept confidential, and chances are we've heard worse.