Okuzeka
Medicine vocabulary · History Taking and Examination

Take a history

Meaning in medicine, with examples

phraseCore term

In medicine, take a history means: To ask a patient structured questions about their current problem, past illnesses, medicines, family and lifestyle in order to understand what is wrong.

In Turkish: anamnez almak, öykü almak, hikaye almak

How it is used

Every consultation starts with it, and medical schools test it in OSCE stations. Doctors take a full or focused history; the result is written in the notes as the history (Hx).

Example sentences

  1. Can you take a history from the patient in bed 4 while I check the bloods?

  2. Taking a good history gives you the diagnosis in most cases.

  3. I haven't had time to take a full history, but the pain started this morning.

Common collocations

  • take a full history
  • take a focused history
  • history of presenting complaint
  • collateral history
  • drug history
  • chief complaintThe main problem that made the patient come to see a doctor, usually written in the patient's own words at the start of the notes.
  • past medical historyThe section of a history that lists a patient's previous and ongoing illnesses, operations and hospital stays.
  • family historyInformation about illnesses in a patient's close relatives, such as parents, brothers and sisters, which may increase the patient's own risk.
  • physical examinationThe part of a consultation where the doctor looks at, feels, taps and listens to the patient's body to find signs of disease.
  • onsetThe moment or the way in which a symptom or illness begins, for example suddenly or slowly over several weeks.

More terms: History Taking and Examination

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.