Which of the following pieces of information should you record as preliminary data?
A) The chief complaint
B) Elements of the past history
C) Aspects of the present illness
D) The patient's age

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Preliminary data refers to basic information that is collected at the beginning of a patient encounter. Out of the given options, the only piece of information that fits this category is the patient's age, as it is a basic demographic factor that can help inform the rest of the history-taking and physical examination process. The other options (chief complaint, past history, present illness) are all more detailed components of a patient's medical history and would be recorded during the course of the encounter.

Which of the Following Pieces of Information Should You Record