BATES' GUIDE TO PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING
CH. 1-5 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
SnNOUT Acronym - ANS a Sensitive test with a Negative result rules OUT disease
SpPIN Acronym - ANS a Specific test with a Positive result rules IN disease
SOAP Format for H&P - ANS S- Subjective [History]
O- Objective [Vital signs, Physical Exam, Lab Results]
A- Assessment [List of diagnoses]
P- Plan
7 attributes of a symptom - ANS 1. Location- where is it, does it radiate?
2. Quality- what does it feel like?
3. Quantity or Severity- how bad is it? (for pain, how bad is it on a scale of 1 to 10?)
4. Timing: Onset, duration, & frequency- when did it start, how long does it last, how often does
it occur?
5. Setting in which it occurs- include environmental factors, personal activities (walking),
emotional reactions, and any other contributing factors
6. Factors that aggravate or relief the symptom- what makes it better? what makes it worse?
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, 7. Associated manifestations
OLDCART
Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating Factors, Radiating, Timing
or
OPQRST
Onset, Palliating/Provoking Factors, Quality, Radiation, Site, Timing
Subjective Data - ANS What the patients tells you
The health history
Ex: I had pneumonia two years ago
Ex: My pain feels like an elephant sitting on my chest
Objective Data - ANS What your findings include/what you observe
All physical exam findings
Ex) Vital signs, labs, heart sounds
Review of systems - ANS Do NOT include objective data
Subjective data only
Ex: Reports decrease in appetite
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
EXAMINATION AND HISTORY TAKING
CH. 1-5 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS. VERIFIED 2026.
SnNOUT Acronym - ANS a Sensitive test with a Negative result rules OUT disease
SpPIN Acronym - ANS a Specific test with a Positive result rules IN disease
SOAP Format for H&P - ANS S- Subjective [History]
O- Objective [Vital signs, Physical Exam, Lab Results]
A- Assessment [List of diagnoses]
P- Plan
7 attributes of a symptom - ANS 1. Location- where is it, does it radiate?
2. Quality- what does it feel like?
3. Quantity or Severity- how bad is it? (for pain, how bad is it on a scale of 1 to 10?)
4. Timing: Onset, duration, & frequency- when did it start, how long does it last, how often does
it occur?
5. Setting in which it occurs- include environmental factors, personal activities (walking),
emotional reactions, and any other contributing factors
6. Factors that aggravate or relief the symptom- what makes it better? what makes it worse?
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
1
, 7. Associated manifestations
OLDCART
Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating/Alleviating Factors, Radiating, Timing
or
OPQRST
Onset, Palliating/Provoking Factors, Quality, Radiation, Site, Timing
Subjective Data - ANS What the patients tells you
The health history
Ex: I had pneumonia two years ago
Ex: My pain feels like an elephant sitting on my chest
Objective Data - ANS What your findings include/what you observe
All physical exam findings
Ex) Vital signs, labs, heart sounds
Review of systems - ANS Do NOT include objective data
Subjective data only
Ex: Reports decrease in appetite
@COPYRIGHT 2026/2027 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
2
