What details are included in the Background section of I-SBAR?

• A. Age and sex only.
• B. Current vital signs.
• C. Medications and allergies.
• D. Age, sex, medical history, trauma details, pertinent past medical history, medications, and allergies.

Answer: (D)

The Background section is where you give the receiver the patient’s context to guide immediate care. It should include who the patient is (age and sex) and the information that can influence treatment: their medical history, any pertinent past medical history, details about any trauma if relevant, the medications they are taking, and any allergies. These items help clinicians anticipate contraindications, potential complications, and the overall baseline from which the current situation is evaluated. Current vital signs and the reason for transport are typically addressed in the Situation or Assessment sections, not in Background. So, including age, sex, medical history, trauma details, pertinent past medical history, medications, and allergies provides the most complete and useful background.