Clinical Skills: Oxford Core Text is a comprehensive, practical guide for medical students covering all aspects of history-taking, physical examination, and simple practical procedures - how to take a history, elicit and evaluate problems, the method of examining a patient, and how to interpret the significance of findings. The book also includes guidance on basic data interpretation - how to carry out and interpret test results. Common difficulties are highlighted and solutions given with the aid of case histories and practical tips. Specially drawn colour illustrations and photographs demonstrate examination techniques and clinical diseases. The writing style is accessible and easy to follow - almost like a tutorial from an experienced doctor at the bedside. For advanced students there are summaries, useful lists and hints for finals, including a chapter covering the different formats they may encounter. As the foundations of clinical skills remain constant this book will remain an invaluable reference throughout the working life of a doctor.

1. Introduction - about this book, Niall Cox 2. About the wards, Niall Cox 3. General aspects of clinical skills, Niall Cox 4. Cardiovascular system, Niall Cox 5. Respiratory system, Niall Cox 6. Abdomen, T. A. Roper 7. Rectal examination, T. A. Roper 8. Arms, Anita Sainsbury 9. Hands, Catriona Morrison 10. Legs, Aravamuthan Sreedharan 11. Cranial nerves, Richard Gale & T. A. Roper 12. Neck, T. A. Roper 13. Joints, Chris Gale & T. A. Roper 14. Spot diagnoses, T. A. Roper 15. Electrocardiogram, Chris Gale 16. Chest X-ray, Chris Gale 17. Practical procedures, T. A. Roper 18. Exams - Finals short cases, long cases and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), Emma E. B. Burton & Yasir Kasmi

`This book tells you what is important and what one should most concentrate on... precisely the sort of guidance every clinical student looks for... I greatly liked what I saw and read.' Mark O'Shea, Medical Student, Nottingham