Diagnostic Reasoning

Question 1

History of Present Illness
OPQRSTU

Answer 1

O - onset
P - provoking / palliating factors
Q - quality (one word) / quantity (0-10)
R - region / radiation
S - symptoms associated
T - timing / treatments tried
U - understanding – what do they think?

Question 2

History of present illness
BOLDCAARTS

Answer 2

B- had it Before>
O- Onset
L-Location
D-Duration
C- Characteristics
A- Aggravating factors
A- Associated symptoms
R- Relieving factor
T- Treatment tried/ Timing
S-Severity

Question 3

Etiology or cause of symptoms
VITAMINS-C

Answer 3

V-Vascular
I- Infectious
T- Traumatic
A- Autoimmune
M- Metabolic
I-idiopathic/iatrogenic
N-Neoplastic
S- substance abuse and psychiatric
C- congenital

Question 4

Etiology or cause of symptoms
I-VINDICATE

Answer 4

I- iatrogenic
V- vascular
I- Infectious, inflammatory
N- neoplastic
D- degenerative
I- Idiopathic
C- congenital
A-autoimmune
T- Trauma/toxins
E-endocrine(metabolic)

Question 5

probabilistic appraoch

Answer 5

most likley disorders

Question 6

prognostic apparoch

Answer 6

most serious diagnoses

Question 7

pragmatic apparoch

Answer 7

conditions that are more responsive to treatment

Question 8

early anchoring

Answer 8

The inability to assimilate subsequent or evolving data - may lead to faulty synthesis of information and premature closure

Question 9

Premature closure

Answer 9

Making a diagnosis before sufficient verification has occurred and failure to consider plausible alternatives once a diagnosis has been reached