Examination of a 60-Year-Old Smoker With Shortness of Breath course for GPs



This session uses a video clip to demonstrate how to carry out a focused, problem-based physical examination on a patient presenting in primary care with worsening breathlessness.
This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in September 2018.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:
- Decide on an appropriate physical examination of a patient presenting with increasing breathlessness
- Make a targeted examination based on the history to help establish a diagnosis and exclude obvious serious pathology
- Explain to the patient the reasons for your examination and obtain informed consent
- Conduct an appropriate physical examination and explain your findings
- Discuss further examinations or tests which may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis and exclude other pathology
Chronic breathlessness is one of the most common presenting symptoms in primary care. A number of respiratory, cardiac and other causes may be responsible. In the UK, 1.4 million GP consultations take place annually for COPD alone, a condition which is responsible for around 30,000 deaths per year.
Before commencing this session you should:
- Complete the introductory session to this module: Introduction to Physical Examination (400-0001)
- Be working or training in a general practice context
Dr Ward has been a GP partner for the last 20 years and a trainer and appraiser for seven years. He works as a Selection Centre Assessor for East Midlands Deanery and as Clinical Investigator and Revalidation associate for Nottinghamshire PCT. He is also a RCGP examiner for the CSA and iMAP. Within his Practice he has an interest in Respiratory Medicine.

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