13/12/2023
Why is History Taking important?
Taking a comprehensive history at the beginning of an eye test is essential for successful clinical decision-making as well as for creating a foundation for a longstanding patient-practitioner relationship. The five-minute conversation at the start of the test will create a rapport with the patient and allows them to communicate their eye health-related issues. The aim of taking a history is to elicit the patient's reason for visit, ascertain their expectations and acquire relevant background information, resulting in the formation of a tentative diagnosis.
A systematic approach to history-taking ensures that all bases are covered and nothing is missed. It may not occur to the patient to volunteer relevant information, therefore, it is important to ask. A comprehensive history can be divided into sections, each section following the previous one in a logical order. It is important to address immediate concerns before digging further into the patient's background.
