Which statement correctly defines a symptom?

Which statement correctly defines a symptom?

• A. A symptom is objective and observed by the clinician
• B. A symptom is subjective and reported by the patient
• C. A symptom is a diagnostic test result
• D. A symptom is a measured vital sign

Answer: (C)

Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient. They’re things the patient feels or notices, such as pain, dizziness, or fatigue, and they depend on what the person tells you. Signs, on the other hand, are objective findings that a clinician observes or measures during an exam, like redness, swelling, fever, or a high blood pressure reading. Diagnostic test results are data from tests, not experiences the patient reports, and vital signs are objective measurements such as heart rate or temperature. So the statement that a symptom is subjective and reported by the patient is the correct definition.

Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient. They’re things the patient feels or notices, such as pain, dizziness, or fatigue, and they depend on what the person tells you. Signs, on the other hand, are objective findings that a clinician observes or measures during an exam, like redness, swelling, fever, or a high blood pressure reading. Diagnostic test results are data from tests, not experiences the patient reports, and vital signs are objective measurements such as heart rate or temperature.

So the statement that a symptom is subjective and reported by the patient is the correct definition.