Transcript nMRCGP

Dr Mark Feldman
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Money
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AKT
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CSA
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Become AiT
£492
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AKT
£414
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CSA
£1389
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Fee to PMETB
£78
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AKT
Computer marked ‘multiple choice’ paper
CSA
Practical assessment of consulting skills
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Relevance:
The AKT should be relevant to general
practice; any topic covered can be one
which occurs commonly or one which is
significant but less common
High prevalence: Low impact e.g. URTI
High impact: Low prevalence e.g. meningitis
Topical: e.g. Controlled drugs
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Clinical Evidence
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Cochrane Database
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BNF
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GP Curriculum
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NICE
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SIGN
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BMJ Review articles & original papers
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BJGP
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DTB
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Core clinical medicine and its application to
problem solving in a general practice context
◦ 80% of items
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Critical appraisal and evidence based clinical
practice
◦ 10% of items
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Ethical and legal issues as well as the
organisational structures that support UK general
practice
◦ 10% of items
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Regulatory frameworks
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Legal aspects, e.g. DVLA
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Social services, e.g. Certification
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Professional regulation, e.g. GMC
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Business aspects, e.g. GP contract
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Prescribing, e.g. Controlled drugs
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Appropriate use of resources, e.g. drugs
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Health & Safety, e.g. needlestick injury
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Ethical, e.g. Mental capacity, consent
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Know latest guidelines
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Know the BNF
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Know basic stats
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Your core medical knowledge is probably
already sufficient.
1102 candidates
 Mean score
 Top Score
 Pass mark
 Pass rate
Pass rate ST2
Pass rate ST3
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71%
92%
63.3%
83.8%
86.3%
83.8%
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Clinical medicine 74%
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Evidence interpretation 68.2%
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Administration 60.1%
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Asthma – in childhood
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Breast and skin disorders
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Certification
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Fitness to work and drive
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Emergency medicine
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You must bring:
BNF, Stethoscope, Ophthalmoscope,
Auroscope, Thermometer, Patella hammer,
Sphygmomanometer (aneroid or electronic),
Tape measure, Peak flow meter and
disposable mouthpieces
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There are no spares at the exam centre
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Anything else you need is provided
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You have your own room.
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You have a list of patients – your ‘surgery’ for the
morning.
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The list contains brief info about the patient.
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It may or may not include PMH, drugs etc.
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You probably wont know why they are coming.
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You have never seen the patient before – but
colleagues might have.
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Buzzer will sound and patient and examiner
come in.
You have 10mins after which buzzer will sound
again. Anything said or done after this will not
count. The patient and examiner then leave.
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There is no ‘1min/2min’ warning buzzer.
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There is a 2 minute break between patients.
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There is a 15min break after 7 patients seen.
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The examiner sits out of your line of site.
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Examiner does not participate in the
consultation. Ignore them.
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All patients are played by actors who have
been well briefed beforehand
They will almost certainly not have any
physical signs to elicit on examination
If you want to examine the patient say so
and say what you are going to examine.
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If they are testing this exam technique they will
let you go ahead.
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They will then give you the exam findings.
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If they are not testing this exam they will just
give you the findings and tell you not to
examine.
They will only give you results of exams you say
you will do.
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Examination is what you would normally do
as a GP.
This means a lot of it can be done with the
patient sitting in the chair.
It does not have to be exhaustive.
Eg. Chest exam – percussion and auscultation
is fine.
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Any investigation results will be on the table in
front of you or, more likely, will be brought in
by the patient.
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It will list normal levels so you don’t have to
remember them.
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Abnormal findings will be common GP tests.
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Eg. Hb, HbA1c, urinalysis etc.
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It will not be anything obscure.
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If you want to prescribe a drug you don’t have
to write a prescription
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All you need do is say
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Eg. I will give you omeprazole 20mg once a day.
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This is as good as having written it.
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There are prescription pads on the table. Do not
let these distract you.
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DON’T WRITE ANYTHING DOWN
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There is no time
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The prescription will be marked
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There is no penalty for just saying it
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You have to say what you are giving anyway
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The same applies for blood tests and sick
notes and any other forms you might write.
Just say what you will do.
If you want to make a referral, ask the patient
to wait in the waiting room and you will bring
the letter/form out to them.
Leaflets can be ‘collected from reception’
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You have 10 minutes per case.
‘Shows poor time management’ is a reason
they can fail you at the station.
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And they will.
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You MUST be consulting at 10 minutes.
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Each case is marked in 3 domains :
◦ Data gathering, examination and clinical
assessment skills
◦ Clinical management skills
◦ Interpersonal skills
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All domains have equal weighting
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Do not spend 8 minutes on history and
examination – you will fail the station.
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But those domains have no meaning…
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What are they actually looking for?
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DATA-GATHERING, TECHNICAL &
ASSESSMENT SKILLS
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Gathering & using data for clinical judgement
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Choice of examination
Investigations & their interpretation
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Demonstrating proficiency in performing
physical examinations & using diagnostic and
therapeutic instruments
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CLINICAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Recognition & management of common
medical conditions in primary care
Demonstrating a structured & flexible
approach to decision-making.
Demonstrating the ability to deal with
multiple complaints and co-morbidity.
Demonstrating the ability to promote a
positive approach to health
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INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Demonstrating the use of recognised
communication techniques to gain
understanding of the patient's illness
experience and develop a shared approach to
managing problems.
Practising ethically with respect for equality &
diversity issues, in line with the accepted
codes of professional conduct.
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The grades will be on a four point scale:
Clear Pass
Marginal Pass
Marginal Fail
Clear Fail
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There are no merits or ‘grades’ at the end
for the exam as a whole.
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You pass or fail.
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Disorganised and unsystematic in gathering
information from history taking, examination and
investigation
Does not identify abnormal findings or results or
fails to recognise their implications
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Data gathering does not appear to be guided by
the probabilities of disease
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Does not undertake physical examination
competently, or use instruments proficiently
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Does not make appropriate diagnosis
Does not develop a management plan (including
prescribing and referral) that is appropriate and in
line with current best practice.
Follow-up arrangements and safety netting are
inadequate
Does not demonstrate an awareness of
management of risk, and health promotion
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Does not identify patient’s agenda, health beliefs &
preferences / does not make use of verbal & nonverbal cues
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Does not develop a shared management plan or
clarify the roles of doctor and patient
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Does not use explanations that are relevant and
understandable to the patient
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Does not show sensitivity for the patient’s feelings
in all aspects of the consultation including physical
examination
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Disorganised / unstructured consultation
Does not recognise the challenge (e.g. the
patient’s problem, ethical dilemma etc.)
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Shows poor time management
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Shows inappropriate doctor - centeredness
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Be in general practice for a few months
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Consult at ten minutes
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Be Flexible
Scales of the consultation - Weigh your words
[ not too many closed questions]
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The magic questions
◦ What can I do for you today ...?
 Silence / body language
◦ Is there anything else?
 Silence / body language
◦ Have you any thoughts / worries about what this
might be ?