Social history (medicine)

In medicine, a social history (abbreviated "SocHx") is a portion of the medical history (and thus the admission note) addressing familial, occupational, and recreational aspects of the patient's personal life that have the potential to be clinically significant.

Components

Components can include inquiries about:

• Substances
  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco (pack years)
  • illicit drugs
• occupation
• sexual preference (increased risk of various infections among prostitutes, johns, and males engaging in anal-receptive intercourse)
• prison (especially if tuberculosis needs to be ruled out)
• travel
• exercise
• diet

Relationship to history

CMS required history elements

Type of history	CC	HPI	ROS	Past, family, and/or social
Problem focused	Required	Brief	N/A	N/A
Expanded problem focused	Required	Brief	Problem pertinent	N/A
Detailed	Required	Extended	Extended	Pertinent
Comprehensive	Required	Extended	Complete	Complete