Evidence-Based Assessment and Clinical Techniques

These flashcards cover key concepts from evidence-based assessment and clinical techniques, focusing on priority problems, prevention strategies, communication techniques, patient assessment methods, and various health history components.

First-level priority problems

Immediate, life-threatening issues such as airway, breathing, circulation, severe pain, and acute mental status changes.

Second-level priority problems

Urgent but not immediately life-threatening issues like changes in elimination, mobility, nutrition, sleep, and coping.

Third-level priority problems

Long-term or health promotion needs including education, lifestyle changes, and preventive care.

Evidence-based practice

Integrates the best current research evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences to improve patient outcomes, safety, and quality of care.

Primary prevention

Preventing disease before it occurs through methods like immunizations and education.

Secondary prevention

Early detection and treatment of diseases, often through screenings.

Tertiary prevention

Reducing complications and restoring function through methods like rehabilitation and disease management.

Components of diagnostic reasoning

Collecting cues, clustering data, identifying abnormal findings, generating hypotheses, and evaluating/confirming diagnosis.

Verbal response facilitation (clinical interview)

Encouraging patient communication through prompts like 'Go on'.

Ten traps of interviewing

Common pitfalls in interviewing, such as leading questions or using medical jargon.

Subjective review of systems

Head-to-toe questions identifying symptoms the patient may be experiencing.

Standard Precautions

Infection control practices such as hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment.

Assessment techniques

Methods of examination including inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation.

General survey components

Evaluation of appearance, behavior, mobility, speech, and nutritional status.

Vital signs normal range - Temperature

Normal adult temperature range is approximately 97–99°F (36–37.2°C).

Pain assessment tools

OLDCART or PQRST methods for assessing pain and its characteristics.

Optimal nutritional status

Characterized by stable weight, adequate intake, normal laboratory results, and good energy levels.

Waist-to-hip ratio

A measure indicating risk for cardiovascular disease based on body fat distribution.

Snellen chart interpretation

Used to assess visual acuity, where 20/20 represents normal vision.

Ear anatomy

Includes external, middle, and inner ear, each with distinct functions.

Procedures to test hearing

Include assessments like whispered voice tests and tuning fork tests.