Clinical Skills and Examination

This practical, thorough, and concise pocketbook is the perfect companion to the clinical skills needed for life on the wards. It covers all the essential elements that lie at the heart of medical practice in which students must prove their competence, and lays the foundations needed for the rest of their medical career. Part One covers history taking, examination and communication; and Part Two provides an overview of key practical procedures and diagnostic skills, all of which are typically examined via Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) or other clinical case format examinations. The coverage of examination skills alongside practical procedures and explanations of typical tests and investigations make this pocketbook invaluable for students new to clinical medicine. The authors are specialists in teaching clinical skills from both a medical and surgical perspective, and are perfectly placed to cover these cornerstones of medical practice.

Section I: History and examination Chapter 1 History taking 3 Chapter 2 General examination 25 Chapter 3 Examination of the cardiovascular system 59 Chapter 4 Examination of the chest 87 Chapter 5 Examination of the abdomen 97 Chapter 6 Examination of the mental state 112 Chapter 7 Examination of the nervous system 122 Chapter 8 Assessment of disability including care of the elderly 166 Chapter 9 Basic examination, notes and diagnostic principles 173 Chapter 10 Presenting cases and communication 185 Section II: Clinical investigation and practical skills Chapter 11 Clinical and radiological investigations 201 Chapter 12 Endoscopy 230 Chapter 13 Cardiological investigations 236 Chapter 14 Practical skills 279 Chapter 15 Common emergency treatments 326 Appendices Appendix 1 Jaeger reading chart 338 Appendix 2 Visual acuity 3 m chart 338 Appendix 3 Cardiac arrest instructions 340 Appendix 4 Duties of a doctor 341 Appendix 5 Laboratory results—normal values 342 Appendix 6 Examples of OSCE assessment stations 349 Appendix 7 Rockall Score 350 Index 351