501772 - MEDICAL SEMIOTICS (M-Z)

courses

ID:

501772

Duration (hours):

28

CFU:

SSD:

MEDICINA INTERNA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (01/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The course aims at making the Student able to know how to face a diagnostic problem.Objective of the course is to acquire a method in the evaluation of the different elements that constitute the basis of the diagnosis.The stages are:- Patient’s approach as the indispensable tool not only for a correct acquisition of the information but also for any subsequent intervention- Collection of medical history in order to: to understand what are the symptoms inducing the patient to seek medical advice; to be aware of patient’s characteristics in terms of inheritance, life style, physiological functions; to properly evaluate past medical history- Collection of signs through physical examination: the student must be able to systematically verify the morphological characteristics and the proper function of the different organs and systems- It is also very important to understand what are the main instrumental diagnostic tests that should integrate the physical examination.

Course Prerequisites

An adequate knowledge of the human anatomy and physiology is needed. Moreover, the student should have already attended the frontal lectures (>75%)

Teaching Methods

163 / 5.000
Frontal teaching and theoretical-practical teaching at the departments of the hospitals affiliated with the University of Pavia.

Assessment Methods

Oral evaluation (2-3 questions), oriented towards the clinical management of the patient, with simulation of a physical examination and questions oriented towards knowledge of the medical history. For the exam grade of the semiotics course, see the dedicated syllabus

Texts

Semeiotica medica nell'adulto e nell'anziano - Metodologia clinica ed esplorazione morfofunzionale di Frada' - Frada' PICCIN
Bickley. Bates' Guide to Physiscal Examination and History Taking. Lippincot Williams & Williams.
R. Nuti e A. Caniggia: Metodologia Clinica, Minerva Medica B.Bates: L’esame clinico, Piccin
Rasario: Semeiotica Medica, Idelson
Dioguardi e Sanna: Moderni aspetti di Semeiotica Medica, Editrice

History, Vital signs, Cough, Coma, Ascites, Cyanosis, Diuresis, Fever, Edema, Pain, Dyspnoea, Jaundice, Lymph nodes, Thyroid, Arterial and venous pulse, Kidney, Chest, Abdomen, main neurological signs and symptoms, ultrasound semeiotics

Course Language

Italian

More information

Through formal and practical training activities, the student will be able to make a full physical examination, to detect and interpret the main symptoms and signs of disease, using techniques and standardized procedures (clinical skills), to collect from patient's full medical history, oriented to problems and starting from the referral reason, identifying the problems and active and inactive, identifying the relationships between events, providing a weight and an interpretation, always comprehensively considering the needs of the person, perceiving and valuing individuality, to develop the necessary communication skills (interview skills) to reliably and effectively identify all patient-relevant problems, and increase interpersonal communication skills necessary to create a relationship of trust and cooperation with the patient. Furthermore, it will be able to promote patient involvement in its overall management. It will be able to recognize in a clinical setting the various professionals and major logistical connotations of patient management inhospitals.