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The value of the physical examination in clinical practice: an international survey

Elder, AT; McManus, IC; Patrick, A; Nair, K; Vaughan, L; Dacre, J; (2017) The value of the physical examination in clinical practice: an international survey. Clinical Medicine , 17 (6) pp. 490-498. 10.7861/clinmedicine.17-6-490. Green open access

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Abstract

A structured online survey was used to establish the views of 2,684 practising clinicians of all ages in multiple countries about the value of the physical examination in the contemporary practice of internal medicine. 70% felt that physical examination was 'almost always valuable' in acute general medical referrals. 66% of trainees felt that they were never observed by a consultant when undertaking physical examination and 31% that consultants never demonstrated their use of the physical examination to them. Auscultation for pulmonary wheezes and crackles were the two signs most likely to be rated as frequently used and useful, with the character of the jugular venous waveform most likely to be rated as -infrequently used and not useful. Physicians in contemporary hospital general medical practice continue to value the contribution of the physical examination to assessment of outpatients and inpatients, but, in the opinion of trainees, teaching and demonstration could be improved.

Type: Article
Title: The value of the physical examination in clinical practice: an international survey
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.17-6-490
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.7861/clinmedicine.17-6-490
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Bedside medicine, medical education, physical examination, physical signs
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > UCL Medical School
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10040102
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