Abstract

Background: Application of clinical symptoms and signs in the diagnosis of diseases is more often emphasized in resource-poor setting like ours, where the luxury of laboratory investigations and technology may in some circumstances be unavailable. This study aims to evaluate the extent of application of clinical and laboratory information in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases through the experiences of Medical Practitioners in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in the year 2021. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among medical doctors in Port Harcourt to evaluate the extent of application of clinical and laboratory information in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases. Using the multistage sampling technique, 500 semi-structured questionnaires were distributed and 498 were retrieved. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Results: One hundred and fifty-nine (31.9%) respondents used social media platform “some of the time” to do urgent diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Three hundred and three (70.9%) respondents had used only history and examination findings for diagnosis and treatment of diseases in urgent remote community setting. Two hundred and thirty (46.2%) respondents reported mostly positive outcome. About 10% of respondents had encountered medico-legal issues following this practice. A statistically significant p<0.05 (p=0.010) relationship was observed between number of years in service and positive outcome experienced. Conclusion: There is a one in ten chance of being involved in some form of medico-legal issues following exclusive use of clinical history and examination findings in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in our environment.