Essentials

There are certain key clinical topics which are essential to have some confidence before you start seeing patients.  Many of these will be areas which you have not come across since leaving medical school, being common in general rather than hospital practice.

       Infections (ENT, respiratory, eye and gastrointestinal)

       Headaches and migraine

       Depression

       Infestations (lice, scabies, worms)

       Assessing an ill child

       Eczema

       Oral contraception and HRT

       Osteoarthrosis

       Lumbalgia and cervicalgia

These probably make up about 80% of the initial clinical problems that you will come across during your first few weeks in practice.

 Think: How do the clinical presentations and management of these core topics differ between hospital and primary care practice?

This is not a comprehensive list, but if you are uncertain about any of these areas, you may like to take a glance at your undergraduate notes/textbooks. 

A useful “elementary” textbook for starting clinical general practice is:  A textbook for family medicine, McWhinney.  Pitman Press.  There may be a copy in your practice library.