Patient interview

How to interview a patient with itching

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPA
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Itching with a rash is usually a skin problem; itching without a rash can be a sign of disease elsewhere.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Ask to see the skin. [1]

  2. Rash or not

    Is there a rash, or only scratch marks? [2]

  3. Where and when

    All over or local, worse at night, after showers. [2]

  4. Contacts

    Family members itching too (scabies), pets, new soaps or detergents. [3]

  5. Whole-body causes

    Jaundice, kidney disease, thyroid symptoms, weight loss, night sweats. [3]

  6. Medicines

    Opioids, new medicines. [3]

  7. Summarize and plan

    Explain the next steps. [1]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

31 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations
  3. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint

Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.