The Clinical Doctor-Patient Interview is the Most ImportantDiagnostic Tool for an Accurate Diagnosis in General Medicine

Abstract

The anamnesis, or clinical interview, is the first and most important diagnostic tool during a medical consultation, and is therefore fundamental for an accurate diagnosis. However, in clinical practice, time constraints often shorten consultations. The consequences can be significant: important clinical information may be overlooked, diagnostic errors may occur, and subsequently, avoidable therapeutic errors may result. Furthermore, there are nuances that differentiate the anamnesis in general medicine from that of other specialties, and these are not always mentioned in textbooks.