In assessing a patient's social history, which detail should be documented regarding tobacco use?

Documenting a patient's pack/year history in relation to tobacco use provides a clear, quantifiable measure of their smoking habits. This metric reflects both the intensity and duration of smoking by combining the number of packs smoked per day with the number of years the individual has smoked. Such detailed documentation is crucial for assessing the risk factors associated with heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases, allowing healthcare providers to better understand the patient's background and tailor their treatment plans accordingly.

The number of years smoked, while informative, does not give a complete picture of the patient's smoking behavior; it lacks the context of how many cigarettes were consumed during that time. Employment duration and family smoking habits are relevant in a broader social context but do not specifically address the patient's personal tobacco use, which is vital for risk assessment and planning. Thus, the pack/year history is the most comprehensive detail to note in a patient's social history regarding tobacco use.