Chiropractic Methods Exam 2 Practice Test

The chief complaint history is patient-reported information, so it belongs in the Subjective portion. In SOAP notes, the Subjective section captures what the patient tells you about their problem, including the history of present illness, onset, quality, severity, timing, and associated symptoms. The History of Present Illness is typically documented here, reflecting the patient’s perspective, while the Objective section records the clinician’s observed findings, the Assessment states the clinician’s diagnosis or differential, and the Plan outlines the management. Since the chief complaint and patient-described history come from the patient, they fit squarely in the Subjective.