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Bates' Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking

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The Tenth Edition of this classic text provides the best foundation for performing physical examinations and taking patient history. The book features a beautiful full-color art program and a clear, simple two-column format, with highly visual step-by-step examination techniques on the left and abnormalities with differential diagnoses on the right. This edition's health promotion sections have been extensively updated and expanded in all chapters, with new and revised national guidelines, pertinent screening tools, and more information about ways to help patients prevent disease and optimize their health across all settings and age groups. Detailed information on pain assessment is now included in the general survey, vital signs, and pain chapter. A new chapter presents assessment of mental health status and behavior to encompass the psychosocial dimensions of care. Evidence-based content has been increased, with pertinent findings, avenues for research, and references/suggested readings added across the entire book. More than 50 new line drawings and photos have been added. A bound-in CD-ROM and companion Website include 5 Approach to Patient videos, 15 Head-to-Toe Examination videos, 25 Assessment videos, heart and breath sounds, the Center for Disease Control's pediatric growth chart, journal articles, Nursing Professional Roles and Responsibilities , and the fully searchable text. An Instructor's Resource DVD-ROM and online instructor resources are also available.

964 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1998

213 people are currently reading
696 people want to read

About the author

Lynn S. Bickley

120 books6 followers

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5 stars
405 (49%)
4 stars
244 (29%)
3 stars
119 (14%)
2 stars
27 (3%)
1 star
22 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Sara.
1,802 reviews563 followers
December 27, 2025
This book is essential for any medical students.
It's well written and it has many good examples.
I will review its tables and boxes again.


حس پزشکی القا میشه!
Profile Image for Alyssa Del Prete.
58 reviews
November 30, 2023
Thank you to this book for helping me get through didactic year of PA school. Will keep it in my back pocket (filed on my computer) forever
Profile Image for Jillian Rosenblum.
85 reviews2 followers
October 24, 2023
Didn’t legit read every page but figured it deserved to be on my goodreads shelf given how much time I did spend reading this book this year
Profile Image for btjgao.
48 reviews
June 4, 2025
very useful and informative textbook with helpful diagrams, some portions of the book is outdated
Profile Image for Alice.
300 reviews
August 6, 2012
Yes!!! Book from my bachelors degree can be reused for a masters level class thereby saving money on the purchasing of books! WIN!!!
Profile Image for Roma.
775 reviews25 followers
June 9, 2020
Reading this book feels like listening to a great educator. Firstly, it would discuss anatomy, histology, and physiology as a review for certain topics. It would then discuss the physical examination and history taking parts afterward. Also, it highlights the key ideas in a blue box for the students to have easy access for reviewing later. The titles of the related topics and their corresponding pages are written on the right portion of every page as well, making it easier for the students to go back or to read in advance these topics. I learned a lot from this book and I hope that a lot of students would do too.
Profile Image for Joy Shak.
194 reviews4 followers
July 10, 2017
Literally one of the best and most USEFUL textbook I ever had to buy and use for school. Its for teaching doctors how to do a full physical exam. Lots of great information!! Wish I had had this when I had babies. This would have save me many phone calls to the doctor's office.
Profile Image for Erin Henry.
1,421 reviews17 followers
December 3, 2018
Very helpful. I’d love a book that combined health assessment, patho and pharmacology but it would probably be too large to lift! I also wish all medical books were kindle or online books so they could be updated faster and more frequently.
Profile Image for Bruna.
656 reviews130 followers
November 19, 2019
Mais uma matéria da faculdade com o conteúdo concluído, amei estudar por esse livro. Mas ele podia ser confuso às vezes. Enfim, uma das melhoras disciplinas até agora foi semiologia ♥
Profile Image for Lucia Iacullo.
10 reviews
December 17, 2025
deadass read this cover to cover, documenting it for my book count of the year. actuallysuper helpful and informative, sorry if this is crazy
Profile Image for Ao.
11 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2009
Rarely used it during 2nd year med student but a must during clerkship and internship training.
1 review
Currently reading
February 8, 2010
i love that book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kevin.
41 reviews
October 28, 2010
If only more textbooks were like this. Didn't even need to rely on lecture notes. The prac exam went very well thanks to this book.
Profile Image for ERI ES.
410 reviews117 followers
Read
May 10, 2020
Medicina: 3er año.
Es muy útil, con rápido acceso a los signos y síntomas con respectiva explicación. Quizás más útil cuando ya tienes una base de la cátedra.
Profile Image for Claire.
20 reviews
June 13, 2015
no texactly an actin packed read but got me through my paper
Profile Image for Heather.
228 reviews4 followers
November 17, 2020
Good book for learning physical assessment, lots of pictures, written clearly.
Profile Image for Anndrea.
5 reviews2 followers
Want to read
October 13, 2008
Go figure... I am headed to PA school soon... it is a recommended read for it.
Profile Image for Luna.
38 reviews10 followers
December 6, 2008
Buku wajib buat blajar skills lab!
12 reviews2 followers
May 12, 2016
بسیار کتاب مفیدی برای پزشکان هست و یک دانشجوی پزشکی حتما حتما حتما باید بخوندش
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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