Survey of the medical history questionnaire.

The purpose of this study was to examine and to compare the type of information requested on representative health history questionnaires commonly used by the dental profession. Samples of medical history questionnaires were obtained from American and Canadian dental schools, commercial vendors, and the American Dental Association. Results indicated that more than 140 questions have been included on questionnaires and more than 92% of these appeared in some type of yes-or-no format. The number of questions per form ranged from 32 to 88, with an average of 58 items. Although there was wide variation in the range of information requested, the 25 most frequently asked questions occurred in 70% of the forms. The majority of questions focused on noninfectious disease conditions that affect the cardiovascular system and major organ functions, allergies, and blood disorders; infectious diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, mumps, and venereal disease; and health care status and special treatment considerations.