Health History Health Article

Definition

The health history is a current collection of organized information unique to an individual. Relevant aspects of the history include biographical, demographic, physical, mental, emotional, sociocultural, sexual, and spiritual data.

Purpose

The health history aids both individuals and health care providers by supplying essential information that will assist with diagnosis, treatment decisions, and establishment of trust and rapport between lay persons and medical professionals. The information also helps determine an individual's baseline, or what is normal and expected for that person.

Demographics

Every person should have a thorough health history recorded as a component of a periodic physical examination. These occur frequently (monthly at first) in infants and gradually reach a frequency of once per year for adolescents and adults.

Description

The clinical interview is the most common method for obtaining a health history. When a person or a designated representative can communicate effectively, the clinical interview is a valuable means for obtaining information.

The information that comprises the health history may be obtained from a person's previous records, the individual, or, in some cases, significant others or caretakers. The depth and length of the history-taking process is affected by factors such as the purpose of the visit, the urgency of the complaint or condition, the person's willingness or ability to contribute information, and the environment in which information is sought. When circumstances allow, a history may be holistic and comprehensive, but at times only a cursory review of the most pertinent facts is possible. In cases where the history-gathering process needs to be abbreviated, the history focuses on a person's medical experiences.

Health histories can be organized in a variety of ways. Often an organization such as a hospital or clinic will provide a form, template, or computer database that serves as a guide and documentation tool for the history. Generally, the first aspect covered by the history is identifying data.

Identifying or basic demographic data includes facts such as:

• name
• gender
• age
• date of birth
• occupation
• family structure or living arrangements
• source of referral

Once the basic identifying data is collected, the history addresses the reason for the current visit in expanded detail. The reason for the visit is sometimes referred to as the chief complaint or the presenting complaint. Once the reason for the visit is established, additional data is solicited by asking for details that provide a more complete picture of the current clinical situation. For example, in the case of pain, aspects such as location, duration, intensity, precipitating factors, aggravating factors, relieving factors, and associated symptoms should be recorded. The full picture or story that accompanies the chief complaint is often referred to as the history of present illness (HPI).

The review of systems is a useful method for gathering medical information in an orderly fashion. This review is a series of questions about the person's current and past medical experiences. It usually proceeds from general to specific information. A thorough record of relevant dates is important in determining relevance of past illnesses or events to the current condition. A review of systems typically follows a head-to-toe order.

The names for categories in the review of systems may vary, but generally consists of variations on the following list:

• head, eyes, ears, nose, throat (HEENT)
• cardiovascular
• respiratory
• gastrointestinal
• genitourinary
• integumentary (skin)
• musculoskeletal, including joints
• endocrine
• nervous system, including both central and peripheral components
• mental, including psychiatric issues

Past and current medical history includes details on medicines taken by the person, as well as allergies, illness, hospitalizations, procedures, pregnancies, environmental factors such as exposure to chemicals, toxins, or carcinogens, and health maintenance habits such as breast or testicular self-examination or immunizations.

An example of a series of questions might include the following:

• How are your ears?
• Are you having any trouble hearing?
• Have you ever had any trouble with your ears or with your hearing?

If an individual indicates a history of auditory difficulties, this would prompt further questions about medicines, surgeries, procedures, or associated problems related to the current or past condition.

In addition to identifying data, chief complaint, and review of systems, a comprehensive health history also includes factors such as a person's family and social life, family medical history, mental or emotional illnesses or stressors, detrimental or beneficial habits such as smoking or exercise, and aspects of culture, sexuality, and spirituality that are relevant to each individual. The clinicians also tailor their interviewing style to the age, culture, educational level, and attitudes of the persons being interviewed.