275 Medical History Questions to Ask People (Storytelling)

Ask people these 275 medical history questions for storytelling.

I have interviewed hundreds of people about their medical history. Based on the answers I received in those interviews, I have put together a list of writing prompts and questions for medical history to ask people when writing narratives. The medical history series includes five categories exploring childhood, teenager, young adult, adult, and senior adult years. Use these prompts and questions to help you

Identify events and memories you can write about
Organize and write your narrative and story
Develop questions to ask other people about their life’s
Organize, research and write stories about others
Know what type of information to include in narratives and stories
Identify memorabilia, artifacts, photos, documents to include in stories
Develop ideas for journaling, story starters, poetry, memoirs, and more

Writing Prompts and Questions to Ask People

The “Medical History” writing prompts and questions to ask people are part of the 28 articles, 108 category series entitled “7,500-plus Questions About Life to Ask People When Writing Narratives.” The prompts and questions are provided to help you look at medical history from as many angles as possible when writing narratives about yourself, your family, and others. The categories and types of topics covered include:

Childhood Medical History (Age 0-11). Find 31 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover all aspects of your health, disease and recovery, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Teenager Medical History (Age 11-18). Find 55 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover all aspects of your health, disease and recovery, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Young Adult Medical History (Age 18-25). Find 55 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover all aspects of your health, disease and recovery, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Adult Medical History (Age 25-65). Find 55 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover all aspects of your health, disease and recovery, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Senior Adult Medical History (Age 65+). Find 55 questions and prompts. Use these prompts and questions to gather and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. These questions cover all aspects of your health, disease and recovery, including your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Approach each topic from the point of view of the person/lives you are writing about. You don’t have to ask every question. Review the questions and determine which ones are most appropriate to ask. I would encourage you to modify and add questions as you desire.

I have prepared a couple of other resources that will provide value in interviewing for and writing individual, personal, and family narratives: “Complete Guide for Conducting Oral History Interviews” and “Complete Guide to Writing A Personal Narrative.”

Childhood Medical History Questions (Age 0-11)

Writing Prompts and Questions

“Childhood Medical History (Age 0-11)” is part of the series for writing prompts and questions about Medical History. Use these questions to ask, gather, and organize information to help you write narratives about yourself, your family, and others. If you are writing about a deceased person, think of the questions as if you were the person answering the questions.

What was your health like before for this time in your life?
• Describe your overall health?
• What did you to be healthy?
• Did you have any periods when you were ill? Explain.
• What did you do be improve your health?
• Did you have any surgeries? Explain.
• What was the outcome of your surgery?
Have you ever had a health condition that has plagued you over time?
• What is the condition?
• What is the experience?
• How has the experience evolved?
• What steps did you take to improve your health?
• Did your health improve? Why or why not?
• Did you do any research to learn about your health?
• Was there anything you learned that changed your health?
• Did you visit a doctor?
• Did your condition require surgery? Explain.
Have you ever had an issue with being overweight or underweight?
• Explain your experience?
• Did you ever feel like you wanted to be thinner?
• What did you do?
Have you ever had knee, foot, leg, arm or back problems?
• What was the cause?
• What did you do to overcome the problem?
• Explain your experience?
• Did the problem become better? Explain.
Did you ever have illnesses like mumps, chickenpox or measles? Explain.
Have you ever had any issues with eyesight or hearing?
• Did you wear glasses or contact lenses?
• Did you wear a hearing aid?
What has your dental health been like? Explain.
Have you ever been injured in an accident?
• Have you had a sports injury? Explain. Share the process of becoming better.
• Have you ever had an auto accident? Explain. Share the process of becoming better.
• Have you ever had an accident at work? Explain. Share the process of becoming better.
• Have you ever had an accident? Explain. Share the process of becoming better.
Have you ever had allergies? Explain.
Have you ever been hospitalized?
• Describe the circumstances.
• What was the outcome?
Have you ever had a severe illness?
• What was the illness?
• How did you find out?
• How were you treated?
• What was the outcome?
• Did you take medications?
Have you ever had a mental illness?
• Describe your experiences?
• Were you able to receive treatment?
• What was your experience?
• What was the outcome?
• If so, when did you find out that this illness ran in the family?
• Did this knowledge change your lifestyle?
• How?
Are there any other health issues you would like to discuss?