Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis, 5th Edition

By: Steven McGee, MD

ISBN: 9780323754835

Pub Date: August 18, 2021

Reviewed By:  Dennis Gingrich, MD, Retired Professor (Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine) 

Description  

This is an update of a book that reviews descriptions of physical examination findings and, when applicable, the physiological processes that undergird the diagnostic process. It covers the application of evidence-based physical examination findings to the diagnostic process through description of the examination, its clinical significance, and the evidence-based diagnostic value of many of the findings. The anatomic areas of head and neck, heart, lungs, abdomen, and neurological system are covered, as are selected disease entities. Special topic chapters include a description of evidence-based medicine, patient general appearance, vital signs, and application to ICU care. The book is well referenced and includes numerous tables to assist understanding. The previous edition was published in 2018. 

Purpose  

It is intended to explore the origin and diagnostic accuracy of many of the physical signs used today in adult patients. It satisfies this purpose by providing a single-point, unified, and integrated guide for learners, teachers, or community-based clinicians to better understand physical findings, their clinical significance, and in many cases their predictive value in diagnosis. It packages this information with teaching point guides, tables, and references that assist in understanding and the pursuit of additional information if desired. 

Audience  

With its broad look at physical examination skills that intersect systems and anatomic location, along with specific guides to their application and, in many cases, their diagnostic predictive value, this book is ideal for learners, including medical students and residents, but it also could be used by advanced practice clinician students as well. It would be very helpful for teachers of these learners as well, and useful for clinicians, particularly primary care clinicians, who might want to review their physical examination skills and enhance their understanding of diagnostic predictive value. 

Features  

This well-organized book is particularly good at integration of physical findings, their application, and their diagnostic predictive value and utility. The material is presented in a straightforward manner, with clarity, and in consistent subcategories, which allows quick progress through the book. 

Chapters cover most major anatomic areas, selective diseases in chapters that describe some pulmonary, cardiac, and neurological disorders, and several special topics. Chapters start with key teaching points, clinical significance of physical findings, and evidence-based application of the findings to diagnosis. The numerous tables are well organized and suitable for teaching as well as learning. An appendix of tables is also included. 

Assessment   

This is a well-organized and integrated presentation of a very necessary component of medical practice, physical examination findings and how to apply them. The examination findings are described along with their clinical significance, and in many cases the evidence-based predictive diagnostic value. Tables and references are numerous and helpful, making this a good choice for learners, including medical students, resident physicians, advanced clinician learners, and their teachers. Those in clinical practice, particularly in primary care, who might wish a review of examination findings and their application from an evidence-based perspective, also will find this book useful. 

©Doody’s Review Service, 2022, Dennis Gingrich, MD, Retired Professor (Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine)

Doody’s Score: 93 – 4 Stars!

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