An innovative book on the Skills of History Taking

The Skills of History Taking  (2nd edition)

Author : Dr. Rahul Tanwani

Publishers : Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd., New Delhi

The format of the book covers every minor detail required for better communication with the patients and understanding of the clinical settings. Must read for medical students of all systems of medicine.  The entire book is presented in a clear manner and it can be read in a single sitting. 

Book covers up all aspects of history taking including all the small mistakes which are quite often to be made unintentionally..Language used is quite good and understandable with excellent illustrations and examples of situation.

Very essential information to establish an effective doctor-patient relationship.

This book will definitely help a lot of people to overcome their fears in terms of communicating with their patients. This books gives us a step by step detailed explanation on how to interact and further proceed with different cases which is a very important thing in the clinical field.

Recommended for 

• All medical students (from 2nd year onwards)
• Post graduate students (from clinical specialities)
• Students from other fields like Dental, Homeopathic, Ayurvedic etc.
• Private practitioners (specially for the beginners)

About the book
Proper communication with the patients is an art and every doctor keeps learning it throughout his life. First he learns from his teachers and then from his experiences. Most of the literature available in our country has emphasised on the ‘clinical examination’ part of the patients while the section of ‘history taking’ is summarised only in the initial few pages. Moreover, as the art of communication is largely influenced by the culture and lifestyle of the people, the literature from foreign sources cannot be blindly replicated for students and doctors of our country.

This book is all about the practical aspect of history taking, based on the culture, tradition and lifestyle of our country. It specifically focuses on the most under covered aspect of communication: ‘how to ask?’. It includes a description of format of history taking and a methodical approach of its presentation by the students. Besides, there are numerous points and suggestions which are focused on the commonly encountered problems during practicing life of a doctor.

In other words, it will guide the medical students towards the appropriate methods of communication with different types of patients during their educational as well as the practicing life.

• Pages – 227
• Chapters – 18
• Price – Rs. 225/-

What’s new in the second edition? 

• All the chapters of the first edition have been thoroughly revised and updated, which has lead to an expansion to almost ‘one and a half times’ of the original size of the book.
• 85 illustrations, inspired by some real life incidents.
• Several photographs showing right and wrong methods of communication with the patients.
• Two NEW chapters on ‘Communication skills during INTERNSHIP and POST GRADUATION’ and ‘Communication skills during CLINICAL PRACTICE’.

Salient features

1. Importance of ‘history taking’, Importance of communication skills, Role of investigations, Difference between communication with the patients during student life and practicing life etc.[Ch. 1, page 1-17]
2. Proper method of communication with the patient before, during and after the session of history taking [Ch. 2, page 18-40]
3. Description of the ‘format’ used for taking a medical history [Ch.3, page 41-47]
4. Proper method of interrogating and interpreting the various sections of medical history (e.g. Presenting complaints, Past history, Family history, Drug history etc.). [Ch. 4 to 12, page 48-135 ]
5. Description of the format used for taking history of Pediatric patients [Ch. 13, page 136-151]
6. Commonly encountered problems in communicating with special types of patients (e.g. elderly, children, silent, talkative, irritated patients etc.) and proper methods of dealing with them. Communication with the patients presenting with ’emergency’ conditions [Ch. 14, page 152-166]
7. Proper method of ‘presentation’ of a case history in clinical postings / practical exams. [Ch. 15, page 167-183]
8. Communication with the patients during internship and post graduation period [Ch.16, page 184-195 ]
9. Communication with the patients during clinical practice [Ch.17, page 196-214]
10. A sample chapter on history taking and its presentation [Ch. 18, page 215-223]
11. About the ‘Communication Skills Lab’ at Index medical college hospital and research centre, Indore.

Available in all book sellers and online