Bates’ Visual Guide to Physical Examination

6.2 Health History Video Transcript

Narrator: By eliciting the patient’s concerns before the examination, you prepare for an examination that is efficient and productive.

Doctor: Okay, so you have some concerns about some skin moles or lesions that you’ve seen on your skin recently?

Kathy: I’ve just noticed that I seem to have a couple more.

Narrator: Clinicians play an essential role in educating patients about early detection of suspicious growths, protective measures for skin care and the hazards of excessive sun exposure. Be prepared to advise your patient about the awareness and detection of the major types of skin cancers. Instruct the patient in the ABCDE method for assessing moles, and if possible show the patient photos of melanomas and basal and squamous cell carcinomas for reference.