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Related Experiment Videos

The focused physical examination. Should checkups be tailor-made?

S H Frank1, K C Stange, P Moore

  • 1Department of Family Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106.

Postgraduate Medicine
|August 1, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Routine complete physical examinations may not be optimal for healthy adults. This review advocates for a shift towards focused physical examinations in clinical practice for better patient assessment.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical Medicine
  • Diagnostic Procedures

Background:

  • The traditional "complete physical examination" is a cornerstone of medical education.
  • Its universal application in asymptomatic adults is increasingly debated.
  • Evidence supporting routine screening via complete exams is often limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the ongoing controversy regarding the clinical utility of routine physical examinations.
  • To advocate for a paradigm shift in medical practice.
  • To promote the adoption of focused physical examinations over complete ones for specific patient populations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and critical analysis of existing studies.
  • Examination of the evidence base for complete versus focused physical examinations.

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  • Synthesis of arguments from both proponents and critics of routine physical exams.

    • Main Results:

    • The efficacy of the complete physical examination for asymptomatic adults is questionable.
    • Focused physical examinations can be more efficient and targeted.
    • The utility of specific components of the complete physical examination varies.

    Conclusions:

    • Medical practice should evolve from the complete physical examination to the focused physical examination.
    • A tailored approach to physical assessment is more appropriate for asymptomatic adults.
    • Further research is needed to refine guidelines for focused physical examinations.