This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

The four methods of diagnosis

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

1. Pattern recognition - as for Downs' facies or psoriasis.

2. Algorithm - such as the work-up for polycythaemia. It must contain every possibility.

3. Inductive method - exhaustion. The student method of performing a complete history or examination is not often used by experienced clinicians except to buy thinking time.

4. Hypothetico-deductive method - educated guessing plus testing. A short list of the three to six most likely diagnoses is explored by questioning, examination and investigations and the list revised until minimal acceptable uncertainty is achieved. This is the usual approach of experienced practitioners towards most diseases not instantly recognised.

ref: The Oxford T/B of Med 3e ed DJ Weatherall et al 1996


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.