Diagnosis and problem-solving

To make a diagnosis or solve a problem it is necessary to:

- generate an appropriate working diagnosis or identify problems according to circumstances - seek relevant and discriminating physical signs to help confirm or refute the working diagnosis - interpret and apply correctly information obtained from patient records, history, examination and investigations - apply knowledge of the basic, behavioural and clinical sciences to the identification, management and solution of the patient's problems - recognise one's limits of competence & act appropriately

ref: Robin C Fraser, Clinical Method: a general practice approach, 2e 1992, Butterworth Heinemann