Posted: August 16th, 2017

Which of the following items is considered the single most important factor in assisting the health professional in arriving at a diagnosis or determining the person’s needs?

Which of the following items is considered the single most important factor in assisting the health professional in arriving at a diagnosis or determining the person’s needs?
a) History of present illness
The history of the present illness is the single most important factor in assisting the health professional in arriving at a diagnosis or determining the person’s needs.
b) Physical examination
The physical examination is helpful but often only validates the information obtained from the history.
c) Diagnostic test results
Diagnostic test results can be helpful, but they often only verify rather than establish the diagnosis.
d) Biographical data
Biographical information puts the health history in context but does not focus the diagnosis.