AMC Clinical (Part 2 OSCE) flashcards
AMC Clinical (Part 2 OSCE) · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Open-ended question
- A question that cannot be answered with yes or no and invites the patient to describe their experience in their own words, e.g., 'Tell me about the pain.'
- SOCRATES pain mnemonic
- Site, Onset, Character, Radiation, Associated symptoms, Timing, Exacerbating/relieving factors, Severity-a structured framework for characterising any pain.
- Red flag symptoms
- Features in history that suggest serious underlying disease, such as unintentional weight loss, night sweats, fever, bleeding, or neurological deficit, prompting urgent investigation.
- ICE mnemonic
- Ideas, Concerns, Expectations-a patient-centred approach to explore the patient's understanding of their illness and what they hope will happen.
- Collateral history
- Information obtained from a family member or caregiver when the patient cannot provide a reliable history, e.g., in cognitive impairment or paediatric settings; document the source.
- Medication reconciliation
- The process of obtaining a complete list of all medications including over-the-counter, herbal, and supplements, and comparing it with the medical record to avoid errors.
- Social history components
- Occupation, living situation, alcohol, tobacco, recreational drugs, and safety concerns such as domestic violence; essential for risk assessment and management planning.
- Review of systems
- A systematic enquiry about symptoms across body systems (e.g., constitutional, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, neurological) to uncover issues not yet mentioned.
- Informed consent
- Obtaining permission before examination or procedure after explaining purpose, risks, benefits, and alternatives; the patient must have capacity and be free from coercion.
- Inspection first
- The initial examination step of visually observing the patient for signs such as colour, swelling, deformity, or rash before touching or using instruments.
- Auscultation sequence
- Listening with a stethoscope; for the heart, use the bell for low-pitched sounds and the diaphragm for high-pitched sounds at standard auscultation sites.
- JVP measurement
- Jugular venous pressure assessed with the patient at 45 degrees, measured as vertical height above the sternal angle; reflects right atrial pressure.
- Abdominal examination order
- Inspect, auscultate, percuss, then palpate; auscultation before palpation avoids altering bowel sounds. Check for organomegaly, masses, and rebound tenderness.
- Neurological motor exam
- Assessment of tone, power (0–5 scale), reflexes, and coordination; compare sides and document findings objectively.
- Lymph node examination
- Palpation of cervical, axillary, inguinal, and other basins for size, consistency, mobility, and tenderness; relevant when history suggests infection or malignancy.
- Tactile fremitus
- Vibration felt on the chest wall when the patient speaks; increased in consolidation and decreased in pleural effusion or pneumothorax.
- Percussion note
- Sound produced by tapping the body surface; resonant in normal lung, dull over consolidation or fluid, hyper-resonant in pneumothorax.
- Differential diagnosis
- A prioritized list of possible diagnoses generated from history and examination, including most likely, most serious, and treatable conditions.
- Pre-test probability
- The likelihood of a disease before a test is performed, based on prevalence and clinical features; guides interpretation of test results.
- Sensitivity and specificity
- Sensitivity is the proportion of true positives correctly identified; specificity is the proportion of true negatives correctly identified. Both are intrinsic test properties.
- Likelihood ratio
- The ratio of the probability of a test result in diseased versus non-diseased patients; LR >10 or <0.1 markedly changes post-test probability.
- Wells score
- A validated clinical prediction rule for pre-test probability of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, guiding further testing such as D-dimer or imaging.
- Ottawa ankle rules
- A decision rule indicating when ankle radiography is needed after injury, based on tenderness at specific sites and inability to bear weight.
- Working diagnosis
- The most likely diagnosis at a given time, supported by history and examination, with a plan to confirm or refute it through further investigation.
- Diagnostic time-out
- A deliberate reassessment of the diagnosis when the patient fails to improve or develops new symptoms, to avoid anchoring bias.
- Shared decision-making
- A collaborative process where clinician and patient discuss options, risks, benefits, and patient preferences to reach an agreed management plan.
- Teach-back method
- Asking the patient to explain instructions in their own words to confirm understanding and identify gaps in comprehension.
- Safety-netting advice
- Specific guidance given to patients about symptoms that should prompt urgent review and how to access care if they occur.
- Motivational interviewing
- A patient-centred counselling style using open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS) to explore and strengthen motivation for behaviour change.
- Medication counselling
- Explaining the name, purpose, dose, timing, common side effects, and missed-dose instructions for a prescribed medicine to promote adherence and safety.
- Lifestyle prescription
- Specific, measurable goals for behaviour change such as 150 minutes/week of moderate exercise or salt intake below 5 g/day, agreed with the patient.
- Follow-up planning
- Documenting the interval for review, referrals made, and criteria for escalation, ensuring continuity of care and clear communication.