In SOAP notes, which component records the symptoms the patient reports?

In SOAP notes, which component records the symptoms the patient reports?

• A. Subjective
• B. Objective
• C. Assessment
• D. Plan

Answer: (A)

Patient-reported symptoms go in the Subjective portion of SOAP notes. This section captures what the patient tells you—their complaints, descriptions of pain or symptoms, when they started, how long they've lasted, how severe they feel, and what makes them better or worse. The clinician’s observations and measurements appear in the Objective section, while the Assessment combines all data to form a diagnosis, and the Plan lays out treatment steps and follow-up. For example, a note like “Patient reports lower back pain started yesterday, 6/10 intensity, worsens with movement” would be recorded here, reflecting the patient’s own words and experience.

Patient-reported symptoms go in the Subjective portion of SOAP notes. This section captures what the patient tells you—their complaints, descriptions of pain or symptoms, when they started, how long they've lasted, how severe they feel, and what makes them better or worse. The clinician’s observations and measurements appear in the Objective section, while the Assessment combines all data to form a diagnosis, and the Plan lays out treatment steps and follow-up. For example, a note like “Patient reports lower back pain started yesterday, 6/10 intensity, worsens with movement” would be recorded here, reflecting the patient’s own words and experience.