Free Medical Study

Mnemonics for Full Medical History 

When taking a history: 

Mnemonic: OPERATES 
O         Onset of complaint 
P         Progress of complaint 
E         Exacerbating factors 
R         Relieving factors 
A         Associated symptoms 
T         Timing 
E         Episodes of being symptom-free 
S         Relevant Systemic and general inquiry can be added here 

Medications/allergies 

Mnemonic: PILLS 
P         Pills, is the patient taking any? 
I           Injections/Insulin/Inhalers (as some patients forget to mention when asked
about their medications) 
LL        ILLicit drug use 
S         Sensitivities to anything, ie allergies 

In every history, donʼt forget to ask about the ʻFAWRʼ non-specific symptoms that the 
patient may exhibit 
Mnemonic: FAWR 
F         Fever 
A         Appetite 
W        Weight loss (unintentional) 
R         Reduced energy (i.e. fatigue/lethargy)

When assessing psychological state: 
Mnemonic: SAD CASE 
S         Suicidal ideations 
A         Anxiety 
D         Decreased mood/Delusions/Disordered thought 

C         Difficulty Concentrating 
A         Auditory or other hallucinations? 
S         Difficulties Sleeping 
E         Eating normally? 

Information organization 

When asked to discuss a particular disease, the following surgical sieve is widely
regarded as the best way to proceed: 
Mnemonic: Dressed In a Surgeons Gown A Physician Might Make Progress
D         Definition 
I           Incidence 
S         Sex 
G         Geography 
A         Aetiology 
P         Pathogenesis 
M         Macroscopic pathology                                            
M         Microscopic pathology 
P         Prognosis