PATIENT HISTORY TAKING: MEDICATION HISTORY

Course overview

Patient history taking (PHT) is the systematic and structured questioning by a health care clinician of a patient, a patient’s family member, and/or a close associate in order to gain information to assist in determining a medical diagnosis, developing a nursing care plan, and providing appropriate treatment to the patient. Medication history gathered during PHT is a detailed description of the patient’s current medication use (e.g., over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, eye drops, lotions, sprays, creams), including frequency, dosage, and length of time used, as well as information on medications the patient recently stopped using. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of relevant research on the general principles of PHT, including evidence-based information on gathering a medication history. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.