History Taking and Physical Examination for Patients with Common Cardiovascular Complaints in an Outpatient Clinic by Medical Residents Supervised by an Experienced Cardiologist / 医学教育

ABSTRACT

Eleven 2nd-year medical residents were given the opportunity to take histories and give physical examinations for patients whose complaints included chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea on exertion, fainting, asymptomatic electrocardiographic abnormalities, and hypertension. Each resident took part in this program in an instructor's outpatient clinic twice a week for 2 consecutive months; each resident saw an average of 19 patients. The instructor discussed with the residents how to make diagnoses logically and the necessity of emergency treatment. The residents learned that taking histories accurately is an extremely important diagnostic tool, that a systematic approach is important, and that clinical decisions are often influenced by nonmedical factors. Medical residents need to have experience with such patients to improve their ability to take histories and perform physical examinations; however, proper supervision by an instructor in more important.