What aspects of a patient's history should be noted before starting oxygen therapy?

Before starting oxygen therapy, it is crucial to consider aspects of a patient's history that are directly related to their respiratory health and previous treatment experiences. Noting existing respiratory conditions, such as COPD or asthma, allows healthcare providers to tailor the oxygen therapy to the specific needs of the patient, ensuring safety and effectiveness. Understanding the patient's smoking history is also vital, as it impacts the nature of their respiratory issues and informs the urgency and intensity of the therapy needed. Previous oxygen use is important for assessing how the patient responded to treatment in the past, which can guide current therapeutic decisions and strategies.

Other factors like current medication use, the patient's age and gender, or family medical history, while relevant in a broader clinical context, do not provide as immediate or direct insight into the effectiveness and need for oxygen therapy as the selected aspects do. Properly assessing the respiratory status and treatment history allows for a more precise and personalized approach to oxygen administration.