differentials

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The advent of evidence-based medicine has contributed a lot to medical knowledge at the level of populations. Comparable selected characteristics of patients fit them into the inclusion criteria of controlled trials and each of these patients are factored into the conclusions of these studies. As such, studies present us with probabilities that may apply to a select population that matches the inclusion criteria. Literature on the approach to diagnosis, treatment, prognosis or harm on the individual level is however, sparse. This seems reasonable given that the context of scientific method is defined by its characteristic of being replicable. It must be recognized, however, that health care is not just about treating based on two or three discrete replicable
characteristics of an individual. Decisions in the management of patients, in reality, is based on the individual patient’s wholistic profile involving the biomedical(possibly, with the host of all other comorbidities), sociocultural, economic and other factors. This is sometimes termed as individualized health care. Currently, documentation at the individual level is achieved in part with the case reports in journals and certain clinical case repositories such as NEJM’s collection. However, these are usually centered on showing that a particular discrete entity or pathology or presentation can exist.

DrBlog aims to center on documenting individualized health care through the collection of case reports that establishes the context of the individual from the clinical
history and physical examination and shows how the physician approaches diagnosis and management in such context. Such approach then reflects how the physician weighs the value of current population-based medical knowledge and how it applies to the whole of the individual patient. In itself, this approach is part of medical knowledge that is poorly documented. DrBlog aims to be a knowledge source that addresses this documentation and furthers the exploration if this knowledge by allowing its users to interact through web-based forums to share their own approach or to get to know other people’s approach.

If you are a medical student or a health professional, do join us at

http://drblog.miu.ph