Top 10 tips for diagnosis

This document was originally published in October 2018.

Senior respiratory clinicians have put together a list of top ten tips for making a timely and accurate respiratory diagnosis.

• Don’t assume a previous diagnosis is correct.
• A good history is vital.
• Clinical examination remains vital – don’t just rely on tests.
• Especially, don’t assume that symptoms of breathlessness always have to be due to one cause.

Read what they say about these and other tips.

Clearly, clinicians need to be explicit about what they need to achieve confidence in making an early and accurate diagnosis.

So you may also want to read the article entitled ‘Early and accurate respiratory diagnosis: a patient safety issue needing more serious attention’, written by Noel Baxter, PCRS Executive Chair.