StethopediaClinical Skills Guide
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McMaster University · 6th edition (2026–2027)

McMaster Clinical Skills Guide

History taking, patient-centred communication and say–do–report physical exams, with likelihood ratios for evidence-based diagnosis. Built for your phone in the simulation lab and on the wards.

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Contents

About the guide

  1. IntroductionAbout the Guide

Medical Foundations 1Aug – Oct

  1. Chapter 1General Medical History and Patient-Centred Communication Skills
  2. Chapter 2Primer on Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Skills
  3. Chapter 3Equity-Deserving Populations Primer
  4. Chapter 4Vital Signs and Introduction to Patient-Centred Physical Exams
  5. Chapter 5Respiratory Examination
  6. Chapter 6Cardiac and Hematological Examinations
  7. Chapter 7Head and Neck Examination (excluding Lymph Nodes)
  8. Chapter 8Peripheral Vascular Examination

Medical Foundations 2Oct – Dec

  1. Chapter 9Volume Status Exam
  2. Chapter 10Genitourinary (GU) History and Renal Examination
  3. Chapter 11Lymph Node Examination
  4. Chapter 12Dermatological Examination and Longitudinal Dermatology Curriculum Overview

Medical Foundations 3Jan – Mar

  1. Chapter 13Abdominal Examination
  2. Chapter 14Diabetes Examination
  3. Chapter 15Thyroid Examination
  4. Chapter 16Adrenal Examination
  5. Chapter 17Select Topics in Pediatric Growth and Development
  6. Chapter 18Detailed Sexual Histories
  7. Chapter 19Sensitive Pelvic Examinations
  8. Chapter 20Obstetrics Visit Notes
  9. Chapter 21Clinical Breast Examination

Medical Foundations 4Apr – Jun

  1. Chapter 22General Approach to MSK Physical Examination
  2. Chapter 23Shoulder Examination
  3. Chapter 24Elbow Examination
  4. Chapter 25Hand and Wrist Examination
  5. Chapter 26Knee Examination
  6. Chapter 27Hip Examination
  7. Chapter 28Ankle and Foot Examination
  8. Chapter 29Back Examination
  9. Chapter 30GALS Screening MSK Physical Examination
  10. Chapter 31“Complete” Screening Neurological Examination
  11. Chapter 32Approach to the Psychiatric Consultation
  12. Chapter 33Assessment of Mood and Anxiety
  13. Chapter 34Assessment of Eating Disorders
  14. Chapter 35Risk Assessment: Self, Others, Children, and Property
  15. Chapter 36Assessment of Psychosis
  16. Chapter 37Assessment of Substance Use Disorders

Integration FoundationAug – Nov

  1. Chapter 38Prescribing Lifestyle Interventions in Medicine
  2. Chapter 39Pre-Operative Anesthesia Assessment
  3. Chapter 40Ophthalmology: Essential Anatomy and Clinical Skills
  4. Chapter 41Adult Palliative and End-of-Life Care Assessment

Appendices

  1. Appendix 1Important Patient-Physician Communication Skills
  2. Appendix 2Communicating in Healthcare Teams: Key Ideas
  3. Appendix 3Differential Diagnoses Practice
  4. Appendix 4Transitioning to Clerkship: Procedural Skills Expectations
  5. Appendix 5Record of Your Learning: Physical Exam Maneuvers by Chapter

Indexes

  1. IndexIndex of Key Tests
  2. IndexIndex of Evidence-Based Clinical Questions

How to read the guide

Say, do, report

Each physical exam maneuver shows what to say to the patient, what to do, and how to report it. Why check explains which clinical question the maneuver helps answer.

AFMC expectation levels

Brackets after a maneuver, such as [2, 4], give the AFMC national expectation for pre-clerkship and then clerkship.

  1. Describe the sign or maneuver, but not elicit it.
  2. Perform the maneuver and explain its rationale. Elicit the sign.
  3. Perform it or recognize the sign, and interpret findings in terms of pathophysiology.
  4. Also know the evidence for the test, interpret findings and generate a differential diagnosis.

Likelihood ratios

Likelihood-ratio tables are colour-coded with the simplified method for a pre-test probability of 10–90%: the approximate change in post-test probability.

LRChange in probability
≤ 0.1about −45%
0.1 – 0.5about −30%
0.5 – 1about −15%
95% CI includes 1no change
1 – 5about +15%
5 – 10about +30%
≥ 10about +45%

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