Purpose: The purpose of this project was to produce evidence-based patient history guidelines for the Finnish Ethical Board of Optometry (OEN).

Methods: This innovation project was performed as a literature review analysis-based research project for The Finnish Ethical Board of Optometry between fall 2021 and fall 2022. The project consisted of three phases. The first phase included the search and selection of existing guidelines and evidence-based literature on patient history. The selection of the guidelines was based on geographical and competence viewpoints. Next, an extensive literature search was performed using PubMed, articles in medical journals, information prepared by official health organizations, and textbooks relevant in this field. The second phase included a critical analysis of the selected literature to determine and describe the key elements of patient history. The key elements included in the updated guidelines were such that were found repeatedly in the existing guidelines. These elements were further refined and described after analyzing the selected literature. The third phase consisted of defining the content and structure of the patient history guideline. The content of the guideline was obtained from the previous phases of the work. The selection of the final format of the guideline (a questionnaire) was based on ensuring its usability. This same viewpoint supported the selection of the question types used in the guideline.

Results: As the first result of this project four guidelines on patient history were identified for further analysis. As the second result seven key elements of the patient history were defined as follows: patient information, including demographics; chief complaint, symptoms interview, and history of present illness; ocular status and ocular history; general health status and history; family ocular and medical history; medications and drug allergies; and social history. The third result was the division of these elements into more detailed sub-elements. The fourth result was a narrative literature review that describes in depth the key elements and their sub-elements. The fifth result was the patient history guideline, implemented as a questionnaire.

Conclusions: The results of this project confirmed that the current guidelines need an update because, as such, they do not meet the requirements of a thorough patient history.