Abstract

CRUZ HERNANDEZ, Jeddú et al. Importance of the clinical method. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2012, vol.38, n.3, pp. 422-437. ISSN 0864-3466.

The clinical method, which dates back to the ancient Greece thanks to the Hippocratic school of medicine, shows the road to follow when a patient is given assistance, since clinics has a leading role in medical diagnosing. Some of its fundamental components are relationship of the physician and the patient, the questioning, the physical examination and the clinical history, being the latter the most important tool in data collection. This paper was intended to analyze the clinical method in order to underline its general importance and that of other aspects related to it. General topics linked to this way of reaching the medical diagnosis were addressed, for example, the history of the emergence of the clinical method, the main characteristics of its fundamental components and the role played by several historical figures in medical sciences in setting and promoting this method. Finally, reference was made to the Cuban realities in terms of this issue. The clinical method is not outdated; it continues holding an importance place in the rational and human medical practice at present.

Keywords : clinical method; relationship of physician and patient; questioning; physical exam; medical history.

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