History of Present Illness (HPI): A description of the development of the patient’s present illness. The HPI is usually a chronological description of the progression of the patient’s present illness from the first sign and symptom to the present. It should include some or all of the following elements:

Location: What is the location of the pain?
Quality: Include a description of the quality of the symptom (i.e. sharp pain)
Severity: Degree of pain for example can be described on a scale of 1 - 10
Duration: How long have you had the pain
Timing: Describe when you have pain for example pain with exertion or pain in evening
Context: What is the patient doing when the pain begins
Modifying Factors: What makes the pain better or worse for example aspirin helps
Associated Signs and Symptoms: Physician based on assessment may ask about other sensations or feelings for example – do you experience pain while exercising
Two Levels of HPI:
Brief HPI: Requires one to three HPI elements (see above list)
Extended HPI: Requires four HPI elements or the status of three chronic problems (see 1997 guidelines for status of chronic conditions)

https://www.acc.org/tools-and-practice-support/practice-solu...

History of Present Illness (HPI)
Obtaining an accurate history is the critical first step in determining the etiology of a patient's problem. A large percentage of the time, you will actually be able to make a diagnosis based on the history alone. The value of the history, of course, will depend on your ability to elicit relevant information. Your sense of what constitutes important data will grow exponentially in the coming years as you gain a greater understanding of the pathophysiology of disease through increased exposure to patients and illness. However, you are already in possession of the tools that will enable you to obtain a good history. That is, an ability to listen and ask common-sense questions that help define the nature of a particular problem. It does not take a vast, sophisticated fund of knowledge to successfully interview a patient. In fact seasoned physicians often lose sight of this important point, placing too much emphasis on the use of testing while failing to take the time to listen to their patients. Successful interviewing is for the most part dependent upon your already well developed communication skills.
https://meded.ucsd.edu/clinicalmed/history.html
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History of Present Illness (HPI)

The HPI is a chronological description of the development of the patient's present illness from the first sign and/or symptom or from the previous encounter to the present. It includes the following elements:

-location;

-quality;

-severity;

-duration;

-timing;

-context;

-modifying factors; and

-associated signs and symptoms.

Brief and extended HPIs are distinguished by the amount of detail needed to accurately characterize the clinical problem(s).
https://www.bwc.ohio.gov/infostation/content/4/4.2/4.2.4.1.2...