Overview

Up to 80% of diagnosis can be reached by taking a good history. This module will explore the art of taking a medical history. By exploring different models and aspects of the history-taking process, students will understand and become proficient in performing a comprehensive and effective consultation.

The skills learned during this module will allow registered health professionals to not only appreciate the importance of taking a good and accurate history, but also how developing effective and patient-centred consultation skills can benefit other aspects of their role. Students must spend a minimum of 60 hours with a mentor within the clinical environment to practice their history-taking skills. The mentor will assess the student using clinical competencies. Students will also contribute to an evidence-based discussion board and submit an essay at the end of the module.

Topics may include:

• Illness behaviour and consulting behaviour
• Explanatory models and folk illness
• Asking the right questions concerning the patient’s presenting complaint i.e. the patient presenting with chest pain.
• Setting Ambience
• Building rapport
• Information gathering
• Determining the patient’s goal for consultation and achieving concordance with management plan
• Patient education/counselling
• Discussion of the management/treatment of illness
• Closing the interview
• Documentation
• Ethical and legal factors affecting clinical decision making e.g. patient’s right to information

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -50% Basic understanding of the facts and principles specific to the topics covered in this module. Basic understanding of professional accountability issues. Students will be required to achieve a minimum of C- grade in the assignment to in order to pass the theory component of the module.

-good -60% Very good understanding of the facts and principles specific to the topics covered in this module. Good understanding of professional accountability issues. This equates to a minimum mark of Grade B- in the Grading Criteria.

-excellent 70% Excellent understanding of the facts and principles specific to the topics covered in this module and evidence of additional evidence gained by the student. Very good understanding of professional accountability issues. This equates to a minimum mark of Grade A- in the Grading Criteria

Learning Outcomes

• Analyse the professional accountability of the practitioner when making clinical judgements

• Critically analyse and apply methods of communication

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the wider issues of psychological and sociological aspects of health

• Demonstrate an integrated approach to care through presentation of concise case histories of specific patients

• Demonstrate competence in history taking

• Demonstrate critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning skills in clinical decision making

• Demonstrate effective communication skills within the context of the consultation and within the practice setting

• Demonstrate the skills required to make effective clinical judgements

• Develop and demonstrate skills in empathic and therapeutic communication

• Explore ethical principles within the context of clinical decision making

• Use clinical judgement in the formation of management decisions in acute and chronic disease