ABSTRACT
Primary care diagnostics concerns the interpretation and the rational application of information obtained directly from the patient. It is about re-emphasising the importance of the patient's input into the diagnostic process and performing investigations only after careful consideration has been given to the costs and the benefits as viewed from the patient's perspective. Primary care diagnostics should also be based on the best available scientific evidence applicable to the primary care context. However, this does not mean that such evidence is the only issue that matters. Clinical experience and clinical wisdom are also critical components of the primary care approach. Sometimes, it is simply a matter of not losing the nerve in a situation of uncertainty or rushing to undertake inappropriate investigations. Research has also demonstrated that the question, "Did the doctor give a person chance to say what was really on their mind?" was more likely to be answered in the affirmative in the context of longer consultations.
