Acronym based on the mount “Everest” for the development of clinical reasoning and diagnostic hypotheses during medical graduation

Abstract

Introduction: Acronyms can be an interesting educational tool to guide medical scholars and non-specialist physicians in systematically developing diagnostic hypotheses. Objective: The present study aims to develop an acronym for the step-by-step development of clinical diagnosis to assist medical scholars in constructing diagnostic hypotheses. Method: Classic structures related to clinical reasoning steps and investigative inspirations from Sherlock Holmes were used to create an acronym with educational-indicative content. The acronym was crafted with reference to a natural phenomenon, which, much like medical diagnosis, inspires challenge, technique, and skill to be “conquered.” The acronym was internally validated by three medical professionals.
Result: EVERESTE was formulated to be used in academic settings to encapsulate the essence of medical practice. It metaphorically relates to ascending a mountain: E stands for interviewing the patient, VE for the practice of proper semiology, RE for reorganizing collected information, S signifies sensing and presenting diagnostic hypotheses developed through tools of anamnesis, semiology, and clinical epidemiology, the T step involves tests to confirm/exclude clinical suspicions, and E represents the stage of choosing the therapy that best suits the patient, always considering the therapeutic option with the strongest evidence. Conclusion: Rare clinical conditions and common diseases share symptoms, posing significant challenges in scenarios where data, whether clinical or laboratory-based, are scarce for forming an effective diagnosis. This approach correlates clinical elements, aiming to reach the pinnacle of the “EVERESTE.”