The ‘top ten’ physical examination signs or manoeuvres ranked in descending order for frequency of use, perceived usefulness and the four combinations of frequent/infrequent and useful/not useful
| Rank | Frequent (% respondents) | Useful (% respondents) | Infrequent and not useful (% respondents) | Frequent and not useful (% respondents) | Infrequent and useful (% respondents) | Frequent and useful (% respondents) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auscultation for pulmonary wheezes (96.7) | Auscultation for pulmonary wheezes (97.3) | Character of the jugular venous waveform (37.9) | Conjunctival pallor (21.6) | Visual acuity (54.8) | Auscultation for pulmonary wheezes (95) |
| 2 | Auscultation for presence of pulmonary crackles (96.2) | Auscultation for presence of pulmonary crackles (96.5) | Abdominal palpation and percussion to assess the size of the kidneys (34.9) | Auscultation to determine the cause of a cardiac murmur (15.6) | Evaluation of the optic disc (54.7) | Auscultation for presence of pulmonary crackles (94.1) |
| 3 | Palpation of the abdomen for tenderness (93.6) | Palpation of the abdomen for tenderness (96.0) | Hearing (33.1) | Abdominal palpation and percussion to assess the size of the kidneys (15.1) | Evaluation of the knee joint (54.1) | Palpation of the abdomen for tenderness (90.9) |
| 4 | Auscultation to determine if a cardiac murmur is present (93.0) | Muscular power (94.3) | Chest expansion (31.5) | Abdominal auscultation to assess the character of bowel sounds (12.7) | Evaluation of the retinae (53.1) | Auscultation of pulmonary air entry (88.0) |
| 5 | Auscultation for pulmonary air entry (92.3) | Cerebellar function (94) | Praecordial palpation to detect thrills or heaves (27.5) | Skin turgor (12.5) | Evaluation of joints for synovitis (52.3) | Auscultation to determine if a cardiac murmur is present (87.5) |
| 6 | Palpation of an artery to determine cardiac rate (91.1) | Palpation of an artery to determine cardiac rate (93.6) | Praecordial palpation for the location and character of the apical impulse (27.1) | Palpation of artery to determine character of the pulse (12.1) | Visual fields (51.8) | Palpation of an artery to determine cardiac rate (87.3) |
| 7 | Palpation of abdomen for masses (89.8) | Evaluation of gait (93.4) | Conjunctival pallor (25.2) | Auscultation to determine the character of pulmonary crackles (11.1) | Swallowing (51.0) | Palpation of abdomen for masses (81.9) |
| 8 | Auscultation of character of breath sounds (88.5) | Level of consciousness using a rating scale (eg GCS) (93.2) | Central cyanosis (24.8) | Praecordial palpation to detect thrills or heaves (10.7) | Rectal examination to assess the prostate gland (50.1) | Auscultation of character of breath sounds (80.0) |
| 9 | Auscultation to determine the character of pulmonary crackles (84.3) | Auscultation to determine if a cardiac murmur is present (93) | Rectal examination to assess the prostate gland (21.7) | Praecordial palpation for the location and character of the apical impulse (10.7) | Assessment of the eyes for thyroid eye disease (50.0) | Level of consciousness using a rating scale (eg GCS) (77.1) |
| 10 | Auscultation of the heart sounds (83.3) | Auscultation for pulmonary air entry (92.5) | Evaluation of the retinae (21.3) | Central cyanosis (10.7) | Postural stability by Rombergs test (49.0) | Muscular power (76.4) |
| GCS = Glasgow Coma Scale | ||||||