Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) need focused practice because you need examination and communication skills besides sound knowledge. The candidates are bound to commit silly mistakes due to performance anxiety.
In this post, we have given the 10 most common mistakes, that students commit during OSCEs, which are easily avoidable and will lead to high scores in exams. The list is not exhaustive but these are the must to know and avoid. So, let’s see these one by one.
1. Talking only when you are asked
It is alright to give a detailed answer if you are confident that you are talking right. It makes the examiner go smoothly on to the next question rather than extracting pertinent details in bits and pieces.
2. When you talk, you say things which are clearly wrong
In contrast to the first point, if you do not know the answer, say only what you know and then stop.
3. Unable to pick up clues provided by the examiner
Most examiners are happy to help and usually provide helpful clues if you are getting off track. So be vigilant and try not miss them.
4. Arguing with the examiners
Just one word for it – ‘AVOID’!
5. Causing pain or discomfort to the patients
In exams usually, those patients are not kept who are in pain. Besides conveying a negative impact, if you are causing pain, this indirectly means that you are not fluent in your methods. However, if you have caused pain inadvertently, don’t worry about it too much, apologize to the patient and carry on with the examination. Your further performance will cover it up.
6. Unable to give more than two causes for a finding
Practice during preparation to give at least 3 causes for all commonly encountered signs/symptoms.
7. Unable to formulate simple management plan
You forget to give sensible management plans that you otherwise practically do in your daily clinical practice. Therefore, stay simple and practical imagining that you are in your routine clinic.
8. You say rare diagnoses first
Examiners want to assess that you are a safe doctor who does not miss common things. Do not try to impress the examiners by mentioning the rare diagnoses first.
9. You do not greet your patient
Do not forget that you are not examining just a ‘case’, but a ‘human‘. Stay Humane!
10. You do not cover back patient after examining him/her
After finishing examining your patient, make it a habit to Thank and Cover them back.
So can you avoid these mistakes! Which point did you like the most, please share your thoughts.