What does S in SOAP stand for?

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In SOAP notes, the S represents information the patient communicates about their condition—symptoms, history, and how it affects them. This is the subjective data: based on the patient’s own experience and report, such as pain level, onset, quality, duration, and any factors that worsen or improve it, along with personal history the patient shares. It isn’t something measured or directly observed by the clinician, which is why it’s distinguished from what you can verify through exam or tests. The other sections capture what can be observed or concluded rather than reported: Objective includes measurable findings from exams and tests; Assessment is the clinician’s impression or diagnosis; Plan outlines treatment and follow-up steps. So the best answer is Subjective because it reflects patient-reported information. The term summaries, sign-off, or systemic don’t align with the standard SOAP structure.