Clinical case studies often serve as precursors to the development of clinical guidelines and best practices. By documenting unique presentations or responses to treatments, these studies provide a foundation for:

Guideline Development

Case studies can highlight emerging trends or challenges, prompting larger studies that inform official guidelines. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has developed protocols that stem from case study insights. These protocols and checklists are designed to improve patient safety and outcomes by standardizing care practices. They encourage the use of evidence-based protocols while allowing flexibility, when clinically justified.

Risk Management

Learnings from unexpected complications during case studies can improve patient safety protocols. Case studies documenting medical errors, such as those featured in PSNet’s WebM&M, shed light on specific failures in care that can be addressed to improve treatment outcomes. For example, a notable study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital documented a high incidence of adverse dermatological reactions (ADRs). It emphasized the importance of drug withdrawal as a primary management strategy to ADRs in the case of most medication and clinical conditions. This finding led to the establishment of a hospital-based monitoring system for ADRs. Furthermore, it highlighted the need for training healthcare professionals to optimize drug therapy. Similarly, the early documentation of atypical symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as anosmia, informed public health responses and testing guidelines, leading to more effective case identification and containment strategies. As we understand the importance of clinical case studies, a well-structured approach to creating them is equally important.

The Stages of a Clinical Case Study

Understanding the steps in a clinical case study helps present findings clearly. The infographic below shows each stage, from choosing a case to getting it published. Following the key stages of a clinical case study offers clarity and structure in presenting findings. To support their conclusions, researcher