Which type of information is based on reports or statements from others rather than direct observation?

• A. Subjective
• B. Objective
• C. Measured
• D. Verifiable

Answer: (A)

Subjective information comes from reports, statements, or descriptions provided by the patient or others rather than what the clinician directly observes. It includes symptoms and feelings that cannot be seen or measured by the observer, such as pain, dizziness, or nausea, and must be conveyed by the person experiencing them. This is different from objective data, which are gathered through direct observation or measurement, like a fever reading, wound size, or pulse. While information can be verified, the defining idea here is that subjective data rely on personal reports rather than the observer’s own senses.