The resident will want to know about your drinking and smoking habits. This is not an opportunity for the resident to criticize or pry into your habits, but it is essential that you answer the questions accurately. The resident has no wish to censure you, but he or she must have accurate information in order to reach a correct diagnosis.
The resident will then probably move on to questions related to drugs and medications. A patient often denies taking drugs regularly, only to admit, after closer questioning, that he or she has been taking antacids for indigestion for the past forty years or a laxative every morning for the past month. It is most important that you think carefully before giving your answer. The accuracy of the diagnosis could depend on it. A good example of this is the contraceptive pill. Many women do not regard this as regular medication, but during major surgery it can encourage the formation of blood clots that could prove fatal. The resident will also want to know about any allergies, such as one to adhesive tape.
Many residents make a habit of running through all of the body’s systems at the end of the interview, asking direct questions about each. This is a sort of screening that gives the patient a last chance to remember anything that may be important. The questions about the chest may include: how much do you smoke; do you ever have pain in the chest; are you ever out of breath after walking up the stairs; and do you ever cough up mucus. Questions about the bowels may include: how often do you have a bowel movement; have you ever noticed blood in the stool; or do you feel bowel discomfort at any time. Questions about the bladder may include: how often do you urinate; do you ever feel pain or burning on urinating; have you ever noticed any blood or cloudiness in the urine; have you ever suffered from stress incontinence or frequency; and have you ever had trouble urinating. A female patient will be asked questions about her menstrual cycle: is it regular; is the bleeding heavy or light; does she suffer from painful menstruation; or does she ever bleed in mid-cycle.
