During the secondary assessment after primary survey, which component identifies important aspects of the presenting complaint?

• A. General physical exam
• B. Focused history
• C. Family medical history
• D. Focused physical exam

Answer: (B)

During the secondary assessment, gathering information about what brought the patient in is best done through a focused history. This step captures the presenting complaint in detail—when symptoms started, how they have progressed, what the patient or caregiver is experiencing, and any triggers, timing, quality, severity, and associated factors. That narrative guides what you look for next, which systems to inspect, and what questions to prioritize in the exam. The general physical exam provides a broad survey, the focused physical exam targets findings in likely systems, and the family medical history adds context, but none identify the current presenting problem as directly as a focused history.