CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Clinical diagnosis refers to the process of identifying a disease or condition based on observations, symptoms, and medical evaluation of a patient. It is the crucial step that healthcare professionals undertake to determine the possible cause or nature of an illness or disorder, and is instrumental in guiding subsequent treatment and care decisions.
With a focus on patient history and physical examination, clinical diagnosis involves a comprehensive evaluation of the patient's signs and symptoms. This assessment may include a series of medical tests, laboratory investigations, imaging studies, and other diagnostic procedures to confirm or rule out potential conditions. The clinician carefully analyzes the gathered information, compares it with established medical knowledge and diagnostic criteria, and then makes a diagnosis based on their professional judgment. The process may require expertise and experience, as clinical diagnoses can sometimes be complex and multifaceted.
Clinical diagnosis is primarily based on the expertise and clinical acumen of healthcare practitioners, as opposed to purely relying on laboratory or imaging results. In addition, while it is heavily influenced by scientific knowledge and medical guidelines, it also requires the integration of individual patient characteristics, preferences, and context. The goal of clinical diagnosis is to provide the most accurate and reliable explanation for the patient's symptoms and enable appropriate treatment planning.
Overall, clinical diagnosis represents the initial step in patient care, determining the foundation upon which subsequent therapeutic interventions are built. It plays a critical role in healthcare decision-making and contributes significantly to achieving optimal patient outcomes.
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(1) A d. made from a study of the symptoms only; (2) a recognition of the symptoms of a disease without reference to its pathology.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
- clinical diagnosir
- clinnicaldiagnosis
- c linical diagnosis
- cl inical diagnosis
- cli nical diagnosis
- clin ical diagnosis
- clini cal diagnosis
- clinic al diagnosis
- clinica l diagnosis
- clinical d iagnosis
- clinical di agnosis
- clinical dia gnosis
- clinical diag nosis
- clinical diagn osis
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- clinical diagnosi s
Etymology of CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS
The word "clinical diagnosis" consists of two parts: "clinical" and "diagnosis".
The term "clinical" comes from the Latin word "clinicus", which means "bedside". In ancient Rome, a "clinicus" referred to an attendant or medical practitioner who visited patients in their beds. Over time, "clinical" came to be associated with medical examination or treatment at the bedside.
The word "diagnosis" has roots in the Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "diagnōsis", which means "knowledge from observation" or "discernment". "Diagnōsis" is a combination of the prefix "dia", meaning "apart" or "through", and "gnōsis", meaning "knowledge" or "perception".
Therefore, "clinical diagnosis" refers to the process of obtaining knowledge or discerning a patient's medical condition by examining them at the bedside.
