Title: Explain the nature and importance of medical history.
Course: Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences (14001-1) > Section: Understanding Patient Care

Explanation should include components such as

- a complete and accurate history of past medical conditions
- a family history
- previous surgeries
- complaints
- medications
- allergies (e.g., drugs, foods, latex, environmental)
- social history.

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why is it important to take a complete and accurate medical history?
- Why is family history important?
- Why is it important to listen carefully to the patient?
- What is the correlation between current complaints and past medical history?
- What is social history? Why should it be included as part of the patient's medical history?