Clinical Assessment

last authored: Jan 2010, David LaPierre
last reviewed:

 

This clinical assessment is composed of the history and physical exam. The components of these are best learned early during training, as many aspects can require substantial practice to gain mastery. As training progresses for some professions, such as physicians and nurses, a differential diagnosis should be occurring throughout the interview, guiding questions and physical exam.

 

  • history
  • physical exam

History

A great history elicits important and standardized information from patients, but does so in a natural way. Be curious and open while building trust and rapport. Summarize and get further information using a patient's own words. Ask screening questions about other categories during the HPI.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identifying Data

get to know the patient a bit before diving in - name, age, occupation, who's at home. Some options are:

  • as we get started, I'd like to know a bit about who you are as a person. Can you tell me about yourself in a few sentences?"
  • "tell me a little bit about who you are"

See if you can engage their private voice if possible to set the tone of the interview.

 

 

Chief Concern

  • use patient's words
  • let them talk for a good amount of time

 

History of Presenting Illness


 

Palliative and provocative factors
Quality or Character
Region (as exact as possible)
Severity or amount
Timing: (frequency, onset, duration, course)
Other Symptoms

Disability and adaptation/impact on life situation

 Relevant medical history, risk factors.
 Previous physician visits, investigations, therapies

 

Effects on

 

Past Medical History

  • medical
  • surgical
  • preventive (ie vaccinations, Pap smears, breast exams
  • childhood health

 

Medications

  • prescriptions
  • over the counter
  • herbal
  • caffeine, alcohol, nicotine

Allergies must be inquired into. Ask about dates, types, and severity of response.

 

 

Social History

Tell me about your living situation...

 

Instead of 'who is your next of kin', can say 'is there someone you'd like to be involved if you got sick'?


 Occupations
 Who is at home?
 Education, Travel, Hobbies
 Economics, i.e. Do they have a drug plan?

 

 

 

Family History

There are a number of diseases and conditions with genetic causes and potential risk of inheritance, and a well-done family history can be valuable in identifying them. As one author wrote, "to fail to take a good family history is bad medicine and someday will be criminal negligence" (Childs B, 1982).


 Construct a pedigree if relevant.

 

 

 

Functional Inquiry

 

The current state of the patient.

General: Weight, Fatigue, General well-being, Fever, Chills, Sweats

Current Health: Sleep, Diet

Learn symptoms for systems.

 

 

 

Summarize at the end of the interview, which is perhaps the most important time.

 

 

 

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Physical Exam

The physical exam flows from the patient history, and should be focused according to the differential diagnosis. Specific aspects of the physical exam are as follows:

respiratory exam

cardiovascular exam

abdominal exam

head and neck exam

neurological exam

muskuloskeletal exam

skin exam

breast exam

rectal exam

pelvic exam

male genital exam

 

 

 

General Advice

A recurring progression of steps is IPPA: inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.

 

 

Good References

LifeInTheFast Lane - Clinical Examination (collection of free videos)

JAMA Rational Clinical Exam

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gut feeling has a good negative predictive value,

 

Van den Bruel A, Thompson M, Buntinx F, Mant D. 2012. Clinicians' gut feelings about serious infections in children: observational study. BMJ. 345:e6144.