17-10
To clearly show the comparison between the gualamo jam story and the
diagnosis, list the problem-solving steps of each on the blackboard (or on a copied
handout). But please do not just copy the list below. Use one based on your group’s
suggestions. The steps may be fewer, more, or in a somewhat different order.
SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM SOLVING
Detective Story
1. Discover problem
2. Doubt about cause
3. A guess as to who
die it
4. Notice details (sticky
handprints, etc.)
5. Ask questions
6. Examine fingers
7. Consider all
possibilities (one of
the 3 children with
jam-stained fingers)
8. Conduct tests
(fingerprints)
9. Decide who is
probably guilty
10. .Punishment
11. Results
12. Repeat if poor results
Health Problem
1. Main complaint
2. Attitude of doubt
3. A reasoned guess as
to the cause
4. Observation of person
5. Clinical history
6. Physical examination
7. Consider all
possibilities (and make
a list of them)
8. Specific tests, exams,
and questions
9. Diagnosis
Example
Pain in belly.
What could be the cause?
Most likely to be gallbladder
disease or stomach ulcer.
How sick, fat or thin, skin
and eye color, etc.
Many questions: age, when
problem began, how, is there
vomiting, etc.
Temperature, pulse, location
of pain, etc.
• gallbladder disease
• ulcer or indigestion
• liver disease (hepatitis)
• appendicitis
• gut infection
‘Rebound test’ for
appendicitis, ‘urine foam
test’ for liver or gallbladder
disease, etc.
Probably gallbladder disease.
10. Management or
treatment and advice
11. Results of treatment
12. Repeat problem-
solving process if
poor response.
Pain killers, antibiotic (if she
has fever), advice to avoid
fatty or rich food.
Pain goes away and does not
return (except once, when the
woman eats fatty food).
Woman’s good response
shows diagnosis was probably
right.