title: Common problems: a safe diagnostic strategy.
abstract: This paper outlines a diagnostic model applicable to all common problems encountered in general practice. It has an inbuilt safety strategy to help the busy practitioner consider life threatening conditions and other serious illnesses during the diagnostic process. This paper introduces a new series covering common problems, as distinct from diseases, in general practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Monash University.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Murtagh
mesh_terms: D003933:Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010808:Physical Examination; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011336:Probability