Introduction to Diagnostics

Introduction to Diagnostics

Following topics are discussed in this presentation

Cornerstones of Medical Ethics
Ethical Principles to Guide Behavior
Process of Diagnosis
History taking

– Physical examination
– Laboratory tests
– Diagnostic Approaches
• Recognition
• Reasoning
• Waiting on events
• Hypothesis
• Selective doubting Reliability of data? Symptoms vs Signs
Attributes of a Symptom
The Health History
Identification data
– Date & time of history
– Age, gender, occupation, marital status
– Source of history & reliability

• Main complaint
– One or more symptoms that is causing the patient to seek help
– Quote patients own words

• History of main complaint
– Amplifies the main complaint
– Pulls in relative portions of systems review
– Includes patients thoughts & feelings
• Past medical history
– Childhood diseases & vaccinations
– Lists adult diseases & surgery
– Health maintenance practice

• Medications & supplements
– Prescription drugs name; dose; route; frequncy
– Home remedies otc; vitamins & minerals; herbal supplements; OCP

• Health status
– Allergies
– Smoking; Alcohol; Recreations drugs
– Caffeine
– Sexual history
• Family history
– Outlines or diagram's
– Age & health of patients
– Age and cause of death
– Particularly parents, grandparents & siblings

• Psycho-Social history
– Educational level
– Economic standards
– Personnel interests
– Lifestyle Etc

• Systems review
– Documents presence or absence of sommon symptoms related to each body system


Techniques of Interviewing
• Active listening
• Adaptive questioning general to direct
• Non-verbal communication
• Facilitation
• Echoing
• Empathetic responses
• Validation
• Reassurance
• Summarization

The Physical Examination
• General overview
• Vital signs
• Skin
• Head, eyes, ears, nose & throat
• Neck & back
• Cardiovascular system
• Respiratory system
• Gastrointestinal system
• Upper & lower extremities & peripheral vascular system
• Nervous system
• Breast exam
• Genital & rectal examination

Introduction to Diagnostics.ppt