Overview template
To go back to the main page, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]; Yazan Daaboul, M.D.
Click here to view the Overview Template Statements for Each Microchapter.
Introduction to the Overview Page
The Overview page is a summary of all the other microchapters. The overview page for a microchaptered page will show the main subtitles of the page, with a brief overview of the content of each microchapter within each subtitle. This page is best created last, and aims to summarize the important aspects of the disease. To see an example of an Overview page on Pericarditis within a microchaptered page, click here. The aim is to convey the most important information for a "quick glance" at the disease. Below is the general template to follow when creating an Overview for a microchaptered page. Whether all the subheadings are needed and how extensive they are, will depend on the complexity of the disease page you are creating.
Overview
- This section is the general overview statement for the disease. It should include the name of the main page in the first sentence.
- This section will be an overview statement of all the overview statements below it.
- It should not contain any synonyms or keywords (as these should be at the top of the page listed next to Synonyms and keywords:).
- It should be aimed to be written at a medical student or intern level of understanding. To view an example of an overview section on an overview page, click here.
Historical Perspective
- Historical perspective of a disease discusses the initial discovery of the disease, the major outbreaks/events associated with the disease, and the initial diagnostic and therapeutic discoveries related to the disease.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the historical perspective of a disease should be a short description of the landmark discoveries associated with the disease. It is ideally written after the main historical perspective microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview that is seen on the historical perspective microchapter.
- To view a template and examples of the Historical Perspective overview statement, click here.
Classification
- Classification of a disease varies based on the type of disease. For example, certain cancers may be classified based on stage and grade, whereas a drug allergy may be classified based on the type of drug reaction.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the classification of a disease should be a short description of the way in which the disease is classified. It is ideally written after the main classification microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement that is seen on the classification microchapter.
- To view a template and examples of the Classification overview statement, click here.
Pathophysiology
- Pathophysiology is the study of the biological and physical manifestations of a disease as they correlate with the underlying abnormalities and physiological disturbances.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the pathophysiology of a disease should be a short description of the basic disease process. It is ideally written after the main pathophysiology microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement that is seen on the pathophysiology microchapter.
- To view a template and examples of the Pathophysiology overview statement, click here.
Causes
- This section summarizes the main causes of the disease.
- The overview for causes of a disease should ideally be written after the main causes microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement found on the main causes microchapter for the disease.
- To view a template and examples of the Causes (Non-microbiology) overview statement, click here.
- To view a template and examples of the Causes (Microbiology) overview statement, click here.
Differentiating (Disease name) from other Conditions
- In this section, give a brief description of the main diseases that need to be differentiated from the disease you are describing.
- The overview of the differentiation of a disease should ideally be written after the main microchapter is written. It can be the same as the overview statement found on the main "differentiating disease from other conditions" microchapter for the disease.
- To view a template and examples of the Differential Diagnosis overview statement, click here.
Epidemiology and Demographics
- Epidemiology is the scientific study of the causes, distribution, and control of disease populations. Demographics are the objective characteristics of a population age, marital status, family size, racial origin, present or prior disease, religion, income, and education and how they relate to a specific disease.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the epidemiology and demographics of a disease should ideally be written after the main epidemiology and demographics microchapter is written. It can be the same as the overview statement found on the main epidemiology and demographics microchapter for the disease.
- To view a template and examples of the Epidemiology and Demographics overview statement, click here.
Risk Factors
- Risk factors are variables associated with an increased risk of disease or infection.This section should outline the risk factors that have the highest correlation with the disease.
- The overview of the risk factors of a disease should ideally be written after the main risk factors microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement found on the main risk factors microchapter for the disease.
- To view a template and examples of the Risk Factors overview statement, click here.
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
- The natural history of a disease describes how the disease would progress without treatment. The complications describe the negative consequences of the disease and treatment, and the prognosis describes the outcomes of the disease.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the natural history, complications and prognosis is ideally written after the main microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement that is seen on the natural history, complications and prognosis microchapter page.
- To view a template and examples of the Natural History, Complications and Prognosis overview statement, click here.
Diagnosis
- The diagnosis of a disease details the most important signs, symptoms, tests, and other studies that lead to the diagnosis of a disease.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the diagnosis of a disease should ideally be written after the main diagnosis microchapters are written, to summarize the key points of the microchapters.
History and Symptoms
- Describe the main aspects of the patient history that should be focused on, and the symptoms that lead to, or exclude the diagnosis of the disease you are describing. You should use the name of the disease in the first sentence. For an example of this subsection, click here.
- This section can be the same as the overview section on the history and symptoms page.
- To view a template and examples of the History and Symptoms overview statement, click here.
Physical Examination
- Describe the main physical examination findings that can lead to or exclude the diagnosis of the disease you are describing. You should include the name of the disease in the first sentence. For an example, click here
- This section can be the same as the overview section physical examination page.
- To view a template and examples of the Physical Examination overview statement, click here.
Laboratory Findings
- List the main laboratory studies that can lead to or exclude the diagnosis of the disease you are describing. You should include the name of the disease in the first sentence.
- This section should be the same as the overview statement on the laboratory findings page.
- To view a template and examples of the Laboratory Findings overview statement, click here.
Electrocardiogram
- If EKG findings are pertinent to the diagnosis of the disease you are describing, you can provide the findings here.
- This section can be the same as the overview statement found on the Electrocardiogram page.
- To view a template and examples of the Electocardiogram overview statement, click here.
Chest X Ray
- If chest x ray findings are pertinent to the disease page you are making, you can briefly describe them here.
- This can be the same as the overview statement on the chest x ray page.
- To view a template and examples of the Chest X Ray overview statement, click here.
CT Scan
- If CT findings are pertinent to the page you are making, you can briefly describe them here.
- This section can be the same as the overview section on the CT page.
- To view a template and examples of the CT Scan overview statement, click here.
Echocardiography or Ultrasound
- If echocardiography or ultrasound findings are pertinent to the page you are making, you can describe them here.
- This section can be the same as the overview section on the echocardiography and ultrasound page.
- To view a template and examples of the Echocardiography or Ultrasound overview statement, click here.
Other Imaging Findings
- List the most important diagnostic studies, such as imaging and other studies, that can lead to or exclude the diagnosis of the disease you are describing. You should name any "gold standard" studies here, and include the name of the disease in the first sentence.
- To view a template and examples of the Other Imaging Findings overview statement, click here.
Treatment
- Treatment describes the various, most commonly used methods in treating the disease you are describing.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence.
- The overview of the treatments for a disease should ideally be written after the main treatment microchapter is written, to summarize the key points of the microchapter. It can be the same as the overview statement found on the main risk factors microchapter for the disease.
Medical Therapy
- Medical therapy describes all non-surgical therapies that are provided for the patient.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence followed by the indication to treat the patient (if applicable) and the name of the therapy.
- To view a template and examples of the Medical Therapy overview statement, click here.
Surgery
- Surgery describes all surgeries and therapeutic procedures that are provided for the patient.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence followed by the indication to surgically manage the patient (if application) and the name of the surgery.
- To view a template and examples of the Surgery overview statement, click here.
Prevention
- Prevention describes all strategies that prevent from the occurrence of the disease. Prevention may be either primary (prevent occurrence of the disease), secondary (diagnose and treat existent disease in early stages), tertiary (reduce the negative impact of extant disease), and quaternary (methods to avoid results of unnecessary interventions). At least primary and secondary prevention are usually discussed in each chapter.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence. The availability or lack of vaccine availability of a vaccine against the disease should be clearly written. Other strategies for the prevention of the disease should be outlined and classified as either primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary.
- To view a template and examples of the Prevention overview statement, click here.
References
- References should be cited for the material that you have put on your page.
- For information on how to add references into your page, click here.