Advising or referring patients on the basis of an interview. Diagnostic competence

In many situations (in community pharmacies, on the telephone, etc.), healthcare professionals have to make decisions based on information obtained by interviewing the patient or a third party, without recourse to a physical examination or investigations. Several studies have shown that the interview plays an important role in healthcare decision-making. The provisional diagnosis reached just after taking the patient's history in an interview often matches the final diagnosis. When analysing the information obtained through an interview, it is helpful to take into account the incidence of the condition, to be on the alert for signs of serious situations, and to consider the patient's point of view. In order to obtain more background information, a number of questions should be systematically included in the interview: relevant details about the patient, the history of the complaint, any actions taken, and any past or present drug treatment.