In the SAMPLE assessment, what does the P stand for?

In the SAMPLE assessment, what does the P stand for?

• A. Previous Medical History/Pregnancy
• B. Physical Assessment
• C. Patient's Preference
• D. Past Illness

Answer: (A)

The P in the SAMPLE history stands for past medical history. This covers any ongoing health conditions, previous illnesses, surgeries, and the medications the patient uses regularly. For female patients, pregnancy status can also be relevant to how a condition presents and how it’s managed, so you’ll sometimes see pregnancy included under this same category. That’s why “Previous Medical History/Pregnancy” is the best match for what P represents. The other options don’t fit because they refer to things outside this mnemonic: physical assessment is a different part of the evaluation, patient’s preference isn’t part of SAMPLE, and past illness is a narrower phrasing compared to past medical history.

The P in the SAMPLE history stands for past medical history. This covers any ongoing health conditions, previous illnesses, surgeries, and the medications the patient uses regularly. For female patients, pregnancy status can also be relevant to how a condition presents and how it’s managed, so you’ll sometimes see pregnancy included under this same category. That’s why “Previous Medical History/Pregnancy” is the best match for what P represents. The other options don’t fit because they refer to things outside this mnemonic: physical assessment is a different part of the evaluation, patient’s preference isn’t part of SAMPLE, and past illness is a narrower phrasing compared to past medical history.