INTERPRETING FINDINGS AND
FORMULATING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
EXAM SCRIPT VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE ANSWERS
●● what is differential diagnosis?
Answer: distinguishing a condition from others tat present with similar
clinical features
a rational and systemic approach to problem of treating patients with
unknown cause
●● goals of dif dx
Answer: guide eval + treatment
rule out life-threatening, time sensitive conditions
generate working diagnoses
●● what are steps of the PT process?
Answer: history
,system review
review system
physical exam
knowledge of disease
application of evidence
●● why screen for a medical referral?
Answer: ostrich effect
progression of disease
quicker--> sicker
joint cognitive system
●● what is the ostrich effect
Answer: people deny and dismiss info they find frightening
, ●● what does progression of disease refer to?
Answer: presentation of disease can change based on time between MD
and PT appt
may manifest differently
●● what are joint cognitive systems?
Answer: the cognitive work of diagnosis is within a social context
(including PTs)
the social contact of diagnosis can SUPPORT or DEGRADE diagnostic
thinking in direct/indirect ways
●● what does the joint system determine?
Answer: the success or fail in diagnosis
●● Direct access/referrals
Answer: saves pt money, still allows for further referral, can be a quicker
turnaround to treatment
●● pathognomic symptoms
Answer: characteristics that are indicative of a specific disease
FORMULATING DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSES
EXAM SCRIPT VERIFIED QUESTIONS WITH
ACCURATE ANSWERS
●● what is differential diagnosis?
Answer: distinguishing a condition from others tat present with similar
clinical features
a rational and systemic approach to problem of treating patients with
unknown cause
●● goals of dif dx
Answer: guide eval + treatment
rule out life-threatening, time sensitive conditions
generate working diagnoses
●● what are steps of the PT process?
Answer: history
,system review
review system
physical exam
knowledge of disease
application of evidence
●● why screen for a medical referral?
Answer: ostrich effect
progression of disease
quicker--> sicker
joint cognitive system
●● what is the ostrich effect
Answer: people deny and dismiss info they find frightening
, ●● what does progression of disease refer to?
Answer: presentation of disease can change based on time between MD
and PT appt
may manifest differently
●● what are joint cognitive systems?
Answer: the cognitive work of diagnosis is within a social context
(including PTs)
the social contact of diagnosis can SUPPORT or DEGRADE diagnostic
thinking in direct/indirect ways
●● what does the joint system determine?
Answer: the success or fail in diagnosis
●● Direct access/referrals
Answer: saves pt money, still allows for further referral, can be a quicker
turnaround to treatment
●● pathognomic symptoms
Answer: characteristics that are indicative of a specific disease
