Differential Diagnosis

Core Generalist#

Knowledge#

CG.K.1#

Define the process of clinical reasoning

CG.K.2#

Describe signs and symptoms of common conditions and important conditions to be excluded

CG.K.3#

Illustrate an understanding of clinical disease and event probabilities

CG.K.4#

Identify the system-related and cognitive causes of diagnostic errors, including cognitive bias and heuristics, and describe approaches to reducing cognitive error and improving quality of diagnosis at a healthcare organisation level

Skills#

CG.S.1#

Interpret and integrate data, collect additional relevant data using hypothesis-directed inquiry strategies, and reformulate and refine working hypotheses

CG.S.2#

Formulate a concise and reasoned problem list with differential diagnoses and a management plan

CG.S.3#

Prioritise the problem list, particularly in patients with multiple medical problems

CG.S.4#

Prioritise urgency of individual investigations and treatments

CG.S.5#

Communicate with the patient, their family and carers to develop a management plan

CG.S.6#

Adapt approach to management of each disorder to take account of patient factors and co-morbidities

CG.S.7#

Record history, examination findings, synthesis, and plan for investigations and management accurately and concisely

CG.S.8#

Justify the diagnosis based on clinical information

CG.S.9#

Modify working diagnosis based on new information or response to therapy

Attributes#

At. 2#

Adaptability

At. 8#

Honesty

At. 20#

Sensitivity

Common presentations and conditions in rural contexts#

Common primary care presentations and conditions, including:

  • asthma
  • anxiety
  • atrial fibrillation/flutter
  • back complaint
  • bronchitis/bronchiolitis acute
  • depression
  • dermatitis, contact/allergic
  • diabetes
  • female genital check-up
  • gastroenteritis
  • general check-up
  • hypertension
  • immunisation
  • ischaemic heart disease
  • lipid disorder
  • malignant neoplasm of the skin
  • oral contraception
  • osteoarthritis
  • oesophageal disease
  • prescription request
  • pregnancy
  • sinusitis acute/chronic
  • sleep disturbance
  • solar keratosis/sunburn
  • test results
  • upper respiratory tract infection
  • urinary tract infections
  • vitamin/nutritional deficiency
  • viral disease

Common reasons for admission to rural hospitals, including:

  • chronic obstructive airway disease
  • asthma
  • abdominal pain
  • cellulitis
  • headache
  • digestive system disorders
  • infections
  • dementia
  • pain, and
  • alcohol intoxication or withdrawal without complication
  • trauma, fractures, lacerations, burns

Common and important health problems experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations including:

  • chronic disease; high adult and child prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and related end-organ complications such as cardiovascular, renal and eye disease

  • infectious and parasitic, such as bacterial pneumonia, scabies, impetigo, rheumatic fever, syphilis, trachoma, tuberculosis, leprosy, gonococcal disease, hookworm and strongyloidiasis

  • injury and trauma related to motor-vehicle accidents, environmental hazards, family violence and other interpersonal violence, suicide and self-harm

  • obstetrics; teen pregnancy, gestational diabetes, premature labour, IUGR faltering growth, and

  • mental health; social and emotional wellbeing problems, alcohol and substance misuse

    Presentations found more frequently in rural areas including:

  • direct zoonosis

  • tropical diseases transmitted by animals, tick and mosquitoes

  • spider bite

  • bug & marine creature bites and stings

  • vehicle and workplace trauma

Last updated on by acrrmbot