Clinical Examination

The aim of this book is to describe the practical skills the clinician must acquire and develop in order to formulate diagnostic procedures and management plans. Emphasis is placed on the methods of obtaining an accurate history and of performing a physical examination appropriate to the clinical problem. The main chapters in the book conform to a basic pattern. Each chapter starts by emphasizing the importance of careful history taking. The cardinal symptoms are discussed and their significance explained. The method of physical examination is then described and the relevance of positive findings discussed. The type of investigations, their advantages and limitations are detailed as a logical extension of the clinical examination and an integral part of the management plan. Samples are provided of the methods in practice.
 
The aim of this book is to describe the practical skills the clinician must acquire and develop in order to formulate diagnostic procedures and management plans. Emphasis is placed on the methods of obtaining an accurate history and of performing a physical examination appropriate to the clinical problem. The main chapters in the book conform to a basic pattern. Each chapter starts by emphasizing the importance of careful history taking. The cardinal symptoms are discussed and their significance explained. The method of physical examination is then described and the relevance of positive findings discussed. The type of investigations, their advantages and limitations are detailed as a logical extension of the clinical examination and an integral part of the management plan. Samples are provided of the methods in practice.