Which item is included in the social history?

• A. Chief complaint
• B. Marital status
• C. Previous surgery
• D. Prognosis

Answer: (B)

Social history includes details about the patient’s life and circumstances outside the medical symptoms that can affect care, such as living situation, occupation, and family support. Marital status fits here because it describes the patient’s social environment and potential caregiver or home support, which influence planning after treatment, adherence, and safety at home. The chief complaint, by contrast, is the symptom or problem that brought the patient in and is part of the presenting history. Previous surgery is a past medical history item, documenting past medical events. Prognosis is about the expected course of the disease and planning, not the patient’s social context.