advice for short case examination

In clinical exam and pathway towards becoming a real Dr or specialist. Undergraduate need to undergone several clinical exam. The most striking and scarring is short case exam or so called OSCE (objective short case exam)which takes about 10-15min (average 10 minutes). different stages of OSCE demanding different things from candidate eg, a 3 year OSCE candidate and specialist exit exam demanding different things although they may get similar case.

First and foremost, candidate need to be calm. A calm candidate is a way to achieve success. Saying is better than experiencing it. First, candidate need to stay calm . Take a deep breath before entering it (your hall) and before you approach patient after examiner give you the instruction.

second, listen the instruction properly. Make sure you open your own ear. Do not end up examine the wrong system. Get the hints and do whatever nessasary. If ask when straight to abdomen , do not check peripheral. If ask to skip then skip. the examiner try to make sure you finish in time!

Third, approach patient politely. Remember , patient is your best textbook for disease. In exam, patient is your Future! If he or she dislike, in pain or show unpleasant expression, examiner with no hesistation to fail you. Respect them, examine them as if they are your parents, grandparents and siblings. Do not cause pain -if they are pain then prepare to die. Give correct and clear instruction.

four, smooth examination. Do not sit patient then lie back then sit again. The obstucted exam means troubling patient means failure. The obstructed exam means not finish in time.

Fifth is thank the patient after finished then face yourselves completely to the examiner. Do NOT see back patient during preasentation. It showed inconfidence.

Sixth, do not argue with examiner. If you argue then prepare yourself to fail. if they ask to recheck certain findings, normally you are wrong in undergraduate stages.For postgraduate , it depends on nature of examiner.

Finally good luck to those taking examination.