ArticleAnnals of family medicine2019
Family Physicians' Experiences of Physical Examination.
Article in Annals of family medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- The human disharmony loop: high rates of return to work in intractable workers' compensation patients undergoing surgical release of the pectoralis minor with infraclavicular neurolysis.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2026Article
- Introduction to Qualitative Methods: A Practical Primer for Clinicians.Family medicine · 2026Article
- Adulthood as a social construct: Critical discourse analysis of transition preparation consultations for youth with chronic conditions.Health care transitions · 2026Article
- Why and how do we perform physical examination(s) in clinical trials? A use case of drug intervention trials in type 2 diabetes mellitus.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2026Article
- Prostate Cancer Patients' Perceptions Regarding the Relevance of a Digital Rectal Examination During Their Follow-Up After Radiation Therapy.Cancer medicine · 2025Article
- The phenomenological approach in dentistry - a narrative review.International journal of qualitative studies on health and well-being · 2024Review
- Patients' experiences of being touched by their general practitioner: a qualitative study.BMJ open · 2023Article
- Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: Text Mining of Health Care Workers' Opinions.Journal of medical Internet research · 2023Article
- Telehealth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Analysis of Health Care Workers' Opinions.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
- Physical examination performed by general practitioners in 5 community health service institutions in Beijing: an observational study.BMC primary care · 2022Observational
- Supporting Women's BIA-ALCL Decision-making: Role of the Individual Consult in Empowering the Patient-Physician Team.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2021Article
- Symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer, with differences between proximal and distal colon cancer: a prospective cohort study of diagnostic accuracy in primary care.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- White Nail as a Static Physical Finding: Revitalization of Physical Examination.Clinics and practice · 2021Article
- Touch matters: COVID-19, physical examination, and 21st century general practice.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2020Article
- Physical exam: where's the evidence? A medical student's experience.Family medicine and community health · 2020Article
- Letting go of the physical exam: embracing telehealth solutions to oncology.Journal of cancer metastasis and treatment · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeThe increased availability of reliable diagnostic technologies has stimulated debate about the utility of physical examination in contemporary clinical practice. To reappraise its utility, we explored family physicians' experiences.
methodsGuided by principles of phenomenology, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews exploring 16 family physicians' experiences of conducting physical examination: 7 (44%) men and 9 women (56%) whose clinical experience varied widely, from 11 (69%) urban and 5 (31%) rural locations. We recorded the interviews, transcribed them verbatim, and identified initial themes using template analysis. We worked reflexively, critiquing our own and other team members' interpretations, in order to synthesize and write a final interpretation.
resultsParticipants described 2 facets of physical examination: making diagnoses and estimating prognoses rationally and objectively; and responding subjectively and intuitively to patients' illnesses, which formed relationships between doctor and patient that enacted medical care in the moment. Physical examination allowed physicians to use their own bodies to experience patients' illnesses. Performing physical examination was integral to being a family doctor because it promoted rapport and developed trust.
conclusionsPhysical examination is part of the identity of family physicians. It not only contributes diagnostic information but is a therapeutic intervention in and of itself. Physical examination contributes to relationship-centered care in family practice.
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