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One of the best times for medical students to make a case study is during their clinical years in college. This is when they get to use their knowledge and observe each patient and decide on how they would like to approach them and/or solve their cases.
The beginning of this stage in life is especially exciting and passionate for all students, but it soon becomes tedious and annoying, especially when dealing with a lot of patients. This is why medical students need to know how to write a case study to give them an advantage over other students who might not know how to do theirs correctly, or at all!
Do Make It As Real As Possible
One of the first things that students must do when making case study examples is to make them as realistic as possible. A good way for them to do this is by adding all possible details that are essential to making it sound real, including features such as the place they live, their parents’ names, and occupations, among others. Another thing that they must do is to include an accurate tone, especially if their case study is written in the third person.
Don’t Just Include the Symptoms and Diagnosis
Even though most students know that it’s important for them to give all vital information about the patient, some of them still forget what exactly this entails. A key thing that they must remember is that they are not just limited to their symptoms, but also their full medical history. This is very important because it helps you give the most accurate diagnosis possible, as well as for you to justify your answer with certainty.
Do Make It Educational
What is a case study written for? Another mistake made by students when writing case studies is that they don’t think of them as educational material for other students. But this couldn’t be further from the truth, because it’s a great thing that can help them learn and understand more about real-life situations and diagnoses, which is why they must always keep in mind to include all of the helpful information that will help their fellow students grow and mature.
Source: Venngage
Don’t Just Copy Other People’s Case Studies
Students also tend to copy other people’s case studies, or even find a case study template online without giving credit where it’s due. This is one of the worst mistakes that you can ever make when writing case studies because it will be graded with an F most of the time, and the professor might even ask you to turn it in again or to do it all over.
Do Use The Best Words Possible
One thing that can make a case study good is the use of the best words possible. This is why students must always take their time to carefully choose each word that they are going to include, as this will leave an impression on whoever’s reading it. Another thing that they should do is to use medical terminology whenever possible, as this will make their case study more credible and impressive.
Don’t Forget To Include All Symptoms And Findings
Another mistake made by students when writing their case studies is that they forget to include some important symptoms or findings. A good way for them to avoid this is for them to take their time and go through each patient’s medical history, as well as the things that they did when they were in the hospital. This way, they will be able to see what other symptoms could be included to make it more detailed and realistic.
Do Try Hard To Find The Right Diagnosis
Another mistake made by students when writing their case studies is that they don’t try hard enough to find the right diagnosis. Even if it’s not something that is serious and requires immediate attention, the professor will still want you to be able to provide a thorough and accurate answer, as well as an explanation for why you think it might be the case.
Don’t Forget To List Out All The Possible Causes
Another mistake that students often make when writing their case studies is to forget to list out all of the possible causes for the patient’s condition. Most students only manage to narrow it down to one cause, but they should know that there are always numerous other factors that could have led up to this. A good thing that they can do is to create a list of all of the possible causes, so they can choose from this list when writing their answer. It will also be helpful to use a process flow diagram for pointing out factors that may have led to certain signs and symptoms. Visit Venngage for templates and examples.
Source: Venngage
Do Keep The Vocabulary To A Minimum
Another mistake that students often make when writing their case studies is that they use very advanced words or phrases without explaining what these mean. This might leave some people confused about what you’re trying to say, and it can even lower your score. A good thing that students can do is to use the simplest words possible without sacrificing the quality of their work.
Don’t Forget To Write A Conclusion
Lastly, another mistake made by students when writing case studies is that they forget to write a conclusion. This might lead to them not knowing where to stop, and also causing them to run out of things to say. They know that they could just end it with their answer, but this will make the professor think that they don’t know how to write a proper conclusion as well. A good way for them to avoid this is by writing and ending their paper with a simple summary of what they have already said.
Conclusion
Fully understanding the case study definition and remembering the dos and don’ts of case studies can be very helpful to students who are struggling with completing their papers, especially when they have a week or less to do so. Just take your time while writing them, and ask for some help if you need it. You might even end up impressing your professor with your skills and knowledge!
