USMLE Step 2 CS Interview Mnemonics 2022/2023

Pain - ANSWER-LICQOPRAAA L - Location I - Intensity C - Constant vs Intermittent (duration and frequency) Q - Quality O - Onset P - Precipitating event/Progression/Previous episodes R - Radiation A - Alleviating factors A - Aggravating factors A - Associated symptoms No Pain - ANSWER-DOC PF AAA D - Describe what happened O - Onset C - Constant/intermittent P - Precipitating event/Progression/Previous episodes F - Frequency A - Aggravating factors A - Alleviating factors A - Associated symptoms ROS Adults - ANSWER-THEN FR CS PUB SAW ID T - Trauma/Travel recently H - Headache E - Edema (swelling) N - Nausea/Vomiting (onset, color, frequency) F - Fever/chills/nightsweats/Fatigue R - Racing of heart/Rash C - Chest pain/Cough (B PRODUCTIVE) S - SOB P - Pain in joints U - Urinary problem B - Bowel problem/Abd pain S - Sleep problem A - Appetite W - Weight (gain/loss/time/intentional) I - Infection D - Dizziness (if yes, hearing/vision problem?) PMH Adults - ANSWER-PAM HITS FOSS P - Past medical hx A - Allergies M - Medications H - Hospitalizations I - Ill contacts T - Trauma S - Surgery F - Family Hx O - Ob/Gyn (LMP RTV CS PAP) S - Sexual Hx (men, women or both?, protection?, # of partners during last year?) S - Social Hx (WHARTED) • Work • Home • Alcohol (ask CAGE) • Recreational drugs • Tobacco • Exercise • Diet ROS Pediatric - ANSWER-FEVER CUD SAD F - Fever E - Ear pulling/Ear discharge V - Vomiting E - Eyes readness/Eye discharge R - Rash/Runny nose C - Cry/Chest symptoms (breathing fast)/Cold (recent URI, cough) U - Urination D - Diarrhea S - Seizure/Swallowing/Sleep A - Activity (awake, playful, how does he look?) D - Dry mouth (sunken eyes, soft or sunken spots over head "fontanelles") PMH Pediatric - ANSWER-PAM HS IF BIG DEALS P - Past Medical Hx/Prenatal Hx A - Allergies M - Medications H - Hospitalizations S - Surgeries I - Ill contacts F - Family Hx B - Birth Hx I - Immunizations (UTD?) G - Growth & Development D - Day care (sick contacts?) E - Eating habits A - Appetite L - Last check up (was it normal?) OB/GYN Hx - ANSWER-LMP RTV CS PAP L - LMP M - Menarche P - Period lasts? R - Regularity? T - Tampons (#/day) V - Vaginal discharge/itching/dryness, hot flashes C - Cramps (pain w/periods?) S - Spotting?/Postcoital bleeding P - Pregnancy (#/vaginal vs c-section/complications?) A - Abortions/miscarriages P - Pap smear (last pap? abnormal?) Positive pregnancy test - ANSWER-When did you take the test? OB/Gyn (LMP RTV CS PAP) Breast Discharge/Tenderness Skin changes Sexual (partner, contraception, postcoital bleeding)/STD Planned pregnancy? Desired pregnancy? Domestic abuse? ROS Headache - ANSWER-AT&T WIRELESS A - Aura T - Timing N - Nausea & vomiting T - Tearing and any other eye symptoms (visual changes, red eye, photophobia) W - Weakness/numbness/tingling/dizziness I - Injury (Fall/LOC?) R - Runny nose during attack/Relation to menses E - Estrogen exposure (OCPs, HRT) L - Leg (joint) pain E - Energy level S - Sleep (wakes you from sleep)/Speech difficulties/Stiff neck (+/-fever) S - Stress/Sick contacts Forgetfulness/Memory loss/Dementia/Alzheimer's - ANSWER-FORGETS HIM + DEATH SHAFT F - Fall, FHx of Alzheimer's O - Orthostatic hypotension (feeling faint or lightheadedness) R - Running urine (incontinence) G - Gait abnormality E - Eye (Visual changes) T - Trauma S - Seizure/Speech/Sleep/Support system H - Headache/Weakness/Numbness/Tingling I - Infection (r/o Syphilis, Meningitis) M - Mood (r/o Depression) ADLs: D - Dressing yourself E - Eating by yourself A - Ambulatory (transferring from bed to your chair) T - Toiletry (going to the toilet) H - Hygiene (bathing) IADLs: S - Shopping? H - Housework (cleaning your house) A - Accounting (paying your own bills) F - Food prep T - Transportation (getting from place to place) Depression - ANSWER-SIG E CAPS + L S - Sleep I - Interest loss G - Guilt/worthless E - Energy level/affecting job performance C - Cognition/Concentration A - Appetite/Weight changes P - Psychomotor (anxiety vs lethargic) S - Suicide/Support system L - Libido Hypothyroidism - ANSWER-W ABCD HSV W- Weight changes A - Appetite changes/Amenorrhea B - Bowel C - Cold intolerance D -Depression (how is your mood?) H - Hair loss/thinning S - Skin changes V - Voice Hyperthyroidism - ANSWER-W ABHA PT W- Weight changes A - Appetite (increased?)/Amenorrhea (OB/Gyn Hx) B - Bowel (increased frequency/diarrhea?) H - Heat Intolerance/Diaphoresis A - Anxiety (how is your mood?) P - Palpitations/Proximal muscle weakness T - Tremor Insomnia - ANSWER-INSOMNIA STrIKES HIM I - Interruption of sleep during night N - Naps during the day S - Snoring/Stop breathing O - On the clock (how many hrs do you sleep?, at what time do you fall asleep?) M - Morning awakening N - Narcolepsy (suddenly fall asleep?) I - Illness recently A - Activity before going to sleep S - Sadness/Stress T - Tremor & palpitations I - Irritability K - K-cups (caffeine) E - Exercise (morning or afternoon) S - Sweating / Skin changes, neck pain H - Hair loss/thinning I - heat/cold Intolerance M - Menstrual irregularities Hearing Loss - ANSWER-EAR HAT SOuNDDS E - Exposure to loud sounds/ Ear ache/Ear discharge A - All sounds or a specific sound R - Ringing in the ears (Tinnitus --> Aspirin, Meniere's) H - Headache A - Abnormal gait/balance T - Trauma to head S - Source of sound can be located by patient O - Object insertion into ear previously? N - Numbness/Weakness/Tingling D - Dizziness D - Distorted speech (do words sound distorted? problem understanding speech?) S - Spinning sensation "vertigo" (r/o Meniere's disease & Labyrinthitis) Dizziness - ANSWER-DTH D FFFUN D - Description (onset, vertigo vs lightheaded, duration, frequency, AA) T - Tinnitus/Traveling by plane recently or scuba diving (r/o perilymph fistula) H - Hearing loss/Headache D - Discharge from ear F - Fullness in ear F - Falls (→ Head trauma) F - Fever U - URI (or other infections) (diarrhea can cause dehydration → orthohypotension) N - Nausea Hoarseness - ANSWER-OPEN CHIN O - Overuse of voice P - Pain when speaking E - Exposure to cold weather or dust recently N - Neck swelling (glands/lymph nodes, r/o goiter) C - CVA (Hx of TIA or stroke?) H - Heartburn (chest pain?) I - Infection recently (URI/pharyngitis/HIV)/Ill contacts N - Night sweats/fevers/chills Dysphagia - ANSWER-HARD PC FOOD H - Heartburn A - Appetite changes/Anemia R - Regurgitation/Reynaud phenomenon (r/o Systemic sclerosis) D - Detail (Onset, solid first then liquid, or solids and liquids same time) P - Pain on swallowing (r/o esophagitis) C - Cough at night F - Food cravings (e.g. ice, dirt, clay...) O - Odor (halitosis) O - Overseas travel (r/o Chagas disease) D - Drugs (e.g. bisphosphonates) Cough - ANSWER-B PRODUCTIVE B - Blood in sputum P - Productive cough R - Recent travel O - Odor D - Duration/Timing (day or night) U - URI (SOB, difficulty swallowing, runny nose) C - Color T - TB exposure (fever/night sweats/chills/wt loss)/Last PPD I - Infection/Ill contact V - Volume of sputum E - Energy level (Fatigue) Jaundice - ANSWER-JAUNDICE B J - Journey (recent travel)/Joint pain A - Abdominal pain (LIQOPRAAA) U - Up temperature (fever) N - Nausea/Vomiting D - Diarrhea/Constipation I - Itchy/Immunization before traveling C - Color of urine and stool E - Eating habits/Appetite/Weight changes B - Blood transfusion in past Fever - ANSWER-Coexisting night sweats and chills, recent ill-contacts, exposure to anybody with TB, Cough, Dysuria Tremor - ANSWER-TEACH FACT T - Tingling/Weakness/Numbness (TIA symptoms) E - Emotion (r/o Depression) A - Alcohol use C - Caffeine intake H - Handwritings/Headache F - Falls A - Activities of daily living "ADLs" (DEATH SHAFT) C - Change in voice T - Trauma to head Check Prior History and Context of tremor Assault/Rape case - ANSWER-DORA SEXPLORER D - Description of assault (including location) O - Onset R - Recognition of people involved A - Assault method (how did they assault you?) S - Sexual assault E - Ejaculation occurred? X - Unknown (foreign object used?) P - Pain (LIQCOPRAA) / Past menses (LMP) L - Latex (condoms used?) O - Oral, Vaginal or Anal intercourse (what type of sexual assault was it?) R - Report of assault ER - Estrogen Replacement (are you on any OCP's) Extra questions in Assault/Rape case - ANSWER-LOC, Dizziness Weakness/Numbness Vaginal bleeding Changes in vision Blood in urine/stool