How do you think clinically

How Do You Think Clinically?

A 10-question clinical reasoning assessment from MedRounds.

Work through each case and choose the answer that best reflects your clinical judgement. Focus on the clues, the overall presentation and the findings that should make you reconsider an initial impression.

Estimated time: 5–8 minutes

This is an educational learning snapshot, not a validated assessment of clinical competence.

A 68-year-old woman develops sudden severe breathlessness at night. She is wheezing and coughing pink frothy sputum. Her blood pressure is 210/110 mmHg, oxygen saturation is 82%, and examination reveals bilateral crackles and an elevated JVP. Which diagnosis best explains the overall presentation?

Acute severe asthma

Community-acquired pneumonia

Pulmonary embolism

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema

None

1 out of 10

A 54-year-old man develops central chest discomfort while climbing stairs. He describes it as “indigestion” and feels sweaty and nauseated. His blood pressure and oxygen saturation are normal. What is the most important reason not to simply assume this is gastrointestinal?

His oxygen saturation is normal

Exertional chest discomfort accompanied by diaphoresis and nausea can represent myocardial ischemia

Gastrointestinal symptoms never occur with cardiac disease

Normal blood pressure excludes an acute cardiac problem

None

2 out of 10

A 32-year-old woman develops pleuritic chest pain and mild shortness of breath after starting a medication to delay her menstrual period. Her ECG is normal. What is the most appropriate clinical approach?

Reassure her because the ECG is normal

Assume the symptoms are a medication side effect and observe

Assess her clinical probability of thromboembolic events before deciding whether further testing is needed

Exclude pulmonary embolism because her oxygen saturation is likely to be normal

None

3 out of 10

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4 out of 10

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5 out of 10

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6 out of 10

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7 out of 10

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8 out of 10

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9 out of 10

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10 out of 10

Thank you for completing the MedRounds Clinical Reasoning Assessment.

Your results offer a snapshot of how you approached these cases. Review the explanations carefully: understanding why an answer fits—and why alternatives are less appropriate—is an important part of clinical reasoning.

Your score reflects performance on this assessment only; it does not measure overall clinical competence.

Think Better. Diagnose Faster

Name

Qualification

CLINICAL REASONING ASSESSMENT

How Do You

Think Clinically?

Take your time

Remember

Elevate your clinical reasoning with MedRounds

CLINICAL REASONING ASSESSMENT

How Do You

Think Clinically?

Take your time

Remember

Elevate your clinical reasoning with MedRounds

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