Diagnostics is a science to make diagnoses based on medical knowledge, theories, clinical skills, and clinical reasoning. It is a significant bridge course from basic sciences to clinical sciences.
Since the 1950s, Diagnostics in China had focused on the physical examinations of the thorax and the abdomen. In the 1970s, the Diagnostics course duration is 10 weeks with a little time spent on history taking and write-up. In 1990, West China School of Medicine/West China hospital recruited excellent doctors from all clinical departments and formed the teaching group of Clinical Diagnostics, who carried on the education reform at that time. They have been working on providing better Diagnostics education for students till now.
Currently, the learning objectives of Diagnostics are basic knowledge, theories, skills, performance, and clinical reasoning. The course duration is one year (216 teaching hours) with the contents of History Taking, Physical Examination, Laboratory Tests, Exam-by-Instrument, Write-up, and Clinical Reasoning. We have used diverse teaching methods, including the big classes and small groups teaching and discussion, the Standardized Patient (SP) and role-playing assessment, the bedside, and laboratory training. Big classes and small groups learning to ensure that the students master the essential knowledge and skills. The SP and role-playing assessment help simulate the real process of history taking, physical examination, and write-up. The bedside training offers students opportunities to transfer their knowledge and skills from theory to practice. Finally, the multi-pathway test system provided a standardized and objective evaluation of students’ performance. We have also designed an early course called "Introduction to Clinical Medicine" accompanying diagnostics to prepare students better for the following clinical courses by the early clinical encounters.
The online course will focus on the basic knowledge of Diagnostics, students will learn from medical professors and practice actual skills within daily life.
After 20 years’ exploring and striving for providing better education, Diagnostics in West China School of Medicine/West China hospital demonstrates its encouraging teaching results. In nation-wide clinical skills competitions among medical students, our students with solid theoretical foundations and proficient clinical skills, have won the prizes for several years for their distinguished performance. Numerous domestic medical schools have visited and studied here, taking us as a successful reform example in Diagnostics. Our teacher(s) have served as the editor-in-chief(s) of the national level official textbook of Diagnostics in successive years.
This course is designed for senior undergraduate medical students. The basic theory and practice skills of diagnostics are covered. The intention is that the material will provide an introductory foundation for theoretical and applied diagnostics.
1.Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Diagnostics
1.2 Learning Methods
2.History Taking
2.1Introduction, Chief Complaints
2.2History of present illness
2.3Past history, Review of Systems, Personal history, Menstrual period, Childbearing history, Family history, Closure, Common symptoms
2.4Skills of history taking
Unit test
3. Dyspnea
3.1 Definition and etiologies
3.2 Mechanisms and manifestations
3.3 Associated symptoms, Approach to the patient with dyspnea history
3.4 Summary
Unit test
4.Fever
Fever
Unit test
5. Hematemesis and Hematochezia
5.1 Manners of GI Bleeding
5.2 Reasons for the color change, Key points decide the bleeding manner
5.3 Description of the symptoms, Concomitant symptoms, and signs
5.4 Probable Source of GI Bleeding within the Gut, Mechanism of Bleeding
5.5 Possible diseases Cause Hematemesis
5.6 Detail of Bleeding Manner
5.7 Possible diseases Cause Hematochezia
5.8 Diagnostic Approach to GI Bleeding, Quiz
5.9 Case
unit test
6. Symptoms of Cardiovascular system
6.1 Overview, Chest pain
6.2 Syncope
unit test
Essay question
7. General Examination
7.1 General appearance 1
7.2 General appearance 2
7.3 Skin
unit test
8. Head and Neck
8.1 Head: hair, scalp, skull, eyes
8.2 ears, nose, mouth, parotic gland
8.3 Neck
unit test
9. eye
9.1 Eye Examination, Visual Acuity
9.2 Distance & Near VA Testing, Visual Field
9.3 External Eye Examination1
9.4 External Eye Examination2
9.5 Anterior Segment
9.6 Pupils, Pupillary Reaction
9.7 Fundus Examination
9.8 Direct&Indirect Ophthalmoscopy
9.9 Surgery Video
Unit test
10. Nose, pharynx and larynx
10.1 Nose 1
10.2 Nose 2
10.3 Pharynx and larynx 1
10.4 Pharynx and larynx 2
Unit test
Essay question
11. Chest
11.1 General Concepts
11.2 Physical Examination-Inspection
11.3 Physical Examination-Palpation
11.4 Physical Examination-Percussion
Essay Question
12. Cardiovascular examination
12.1 Percussion 1
12.2 Percussion 2
12.3 Auscultation-areas, Contents-heart rate, rhythm
12.4 Auscultation-Contents-Cardiac Sound 1
12.5 Auscultation-Contents-Cardiac Sound 2
12.6 Auscultation-Contents-Extra cardiac sound
12.7 Auscultation-Contents-Cardiac murmurs 1
12.8 Auscultation-Contents-Cardiac murmurs 2
12.9 Auscultation-Contents-Pericardial friction sounds
Essay question
13. Abdomen
13.1percussion
13.2palpation
13.3rectal examination
13.4review of specific symptoms 1
13.5review of specific symptoms 2
14.Neurological examination
14.1 Cranial nerves
14.2 Motor exam 1
14.3 Motor exam 2
14.4 Sensory Exam
14.5 Reflexes 1
14.6 Reflexes 2
Essay question
15.History Taking and Physical Examination in Children
15.1 History taking in children 1
15.2 History taking in children 2
15.3 Physical examination in children 1
15.4 Physical examination in children 2
15.5 Physical examination in children 3
Unit test
16. Psychiatric interview and MSE
16.1 The psychiatric interview 1
16.2 The psychiatric interview 2
16.3 The psychiatric interview 3
16.4 The mental status examination 1
16.5 The mental status examination 2
16.6 The mental status examination 3
Unit test
17. The female genital organs
17.1 The female genital organs 1
17.2 The female genital organs 2
17.3 The female genital organs 3
17.4 pelvic examination
unit test
18. Male genitalia examination
18.1 Overview and physical exam for penis
18.2 Abnormal Physical Examination Findings of Penis
18.3 Physical exam of scrotum and its contents
18.4 Abnormal Physical Examination Findings of Scrotum and its contents
unit test
19.ECG-Normal ECG
19.1 ECG-Normal ECG 1
19.2 ECG-Normal ECG 2
20.ECG Tachycardia
20.5 Tachycardia 5
20.6 Tachycardia 6
20.1 Tachycardia 1
20.2 Tachycardia 2
20.3 Tachycardia 3
20.4 Tachycardia 4
unit test
21.ECG-Heart block and ischemia
21.1 ECG-Heart block 1
21.2 ECG-Heart block 2
21.3 ECG-Heart ischemia
unit test
22. Clinical Reasoning
22.1 Clinical Reasoning 1
22.2 Clinical Reasoning 2
22.3 Clinical Reasoning 3
Unit test
The prerequisite of this course includes, but is not limited to, the knowledge of, anatomy, pathophysiology, pathology, pharmacology, and medical imaging. Those who are not familiar with this knowledge are encouraged to read related textbooks beforehand.