Clinical Guide
OSCE Medical History Taking Framework
The high-yield SOCRATES & ICE framework used in medical school and licensing OSCE stations.
1. The SOCRATES Pain & Symptom System
S - Site: Where exactly is the pain/symptom? Can you point with one finger?
O - Onset: When did it start? Was it sudden or gradual? What were you doing?
C - Character: How does it feel? Sharp, dull ache, burning, pressure?
R - Radiation: Does the pain travel or move anywhere else?
A - Associated: Nausea, vomiting, fever, sweating, breathlessness?
T - Timing: Constant or intermittent? Worse at night or after food?
E - Exacerbating/Relieving: What makes it better or worse? Any medication?
S - Severity: On a scale from 1 to 10, how severe is it?
2. ICE - Ideas, Concerns & Expectations
Crucial for scoring maximum marks in communication skills:
• Ideas: "What do you think might be causing these symptoms?"
• Concerns: "Is there anything in particular that you are worried this could be?"
• Expectations: "What were you hoping we could achieve or investigate together today?"