Overview template
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]
Click here to download the Overview Template Sentences 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.
- It should read "{{Pagename}} is a disease/ syndrome/ symptom/ condition/ test that involves/ causes/ is seen in/ determines...."
- 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 overview section on an overview page, 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.
- For an example of a classification section within an overview page, 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.
- For an example of a pathophysiology section within an overview page, click here.
Causes
- This section summarizes the main causes of the disease.
- It should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence, and read: "The most common causes of (disease name), are....."
- 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.
- For an example of a causes section within an overview chapter, 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.
- It should read "(disease name) has signs and symptoms that are similar to conditions such as ......... (Disease name) can be differentiated from these conditions by the presence/absence of......."
- 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.
- For an example of a "differentiating disease from other conditions" section within an overview chapter, 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.
- For an example of an epidemiology and demographics section within an overview chapter, 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.
- This section should contain the name of the disease you are describing in the first sentence, and read: "Important risk factors that are correlated with (disease name), are....."
- 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.
- For an example of a risk factors section within an overview chapter, 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. It should read like this: "The natural progression of (disease name) without treatment involves the development of ........ Complications that can occur as a result of (disease name) include........ and complications of the treatment of (disease name) include...... The prognosis with/ without treatment is .......
- 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.
- For an example of a natural history, complications and prognosis section within an overview page, 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, and read: "Important modalities used in the diagnosis of (disease name), are....."
- 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.
- For an example of a diagnosis section within an overview chapter, click here.
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.
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.
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.
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 EKG page. For an example of a EKG subsection within an overview page, 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.
CT
- 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.
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 see an echocardiography section within an overview page, 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.
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, and read: "The most common and effective treatments for (disease name), are..... Alternatively, other treatments that have been shown to have some success are......."
- 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.
- For an example of a treatment section within an overview chapter, 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.