Introduction: The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body. A large percentage of primary care visits are dermatology related. The ability of a physiotherapist t to recognize and describe lesions can lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment of conditions, helping the patient to avoid discomfort, systemic illness, or death. Objective: The purpose of the study was to review the literature to shape the structure of a physical examination of dermatological patient and what recommendations can be given on the basis of the reviewed studies. Methods: Method used was literature review. A search was done in Google Scholar, COBISS/OPAC, Medline, Cochrane library, PubMed and CINAHL database and was limited to English and Slovenian language, the period from 1994 to 2017 and it included studies describing the content of physical examination of dermatological patient. Results: Eleven studies about physical examination of dermatological patient were included. Five authors analyzed the content of the anamnesis. Six authors analyzed the content of inspection and palpation. Five authors analyzed the content of specific clinical tests used in dermatovenerology. The results of the examined studies have shaped the structure of the physical examination in dermatovenerology. Discussion and conclusion: Physiotherapists, as well as other health care professionals play an important role in detecting skin defects if they have knowledge of dermatovenerology. An important part of the physical examination in dermatovenerology is the discussion with the patient, the observation and the tactile examination of the skin of the patient (anamnesis, inspection and palpation) and when needed special clinical tests. However, the physiotherapeutic examination in dermatovenerology in certain aspects does not differ from the physiotherapeutic examination of the patient in any other clinical discipline.
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