CSA scenarios with REAL CSA actors

As close to the CSA exam as possible

Individualised feedback from course facilitators

& CSA actors on your performance

QUICK REFERENCE:
Explaining Diagnoses to the patient
By Nazmul & Muhammed Akunjee

QUICK POINTERS

Ensure you have the clinical knowledge before attempting to explain it

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Whilst patient do respect that doctors do not know everything, they do expect them to know and be able
to explain common medical problems

Having past your AKT exams your medical knowledge will be at an optimum level to tackle the CSA exams

When explaining create an environment that permits two way dialog and is bi-directional
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What you intend to explain will have been built upon what the doctor and patient have already discussed

Permit the patient to interject if necessary when explaining so that it is an interactive process

Signpost to the patient that you wish to offer an explanation of their symptoms
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This can save valuable time in your CSA exam as well as own consultations especially if the patient already
knows about their condition and does not wish you to repeat the explanation

Check the patients current level of understanding about their condition

o

This permits you to check what they already know and see if their understanding needs correcting

Ensure your explanation has clarity

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Attempt to offer clear & unambiguous explanations. Keep sentences short and simple wherever possible

Consider using easily rememberable analogies that the patient can relate to

Do home work, using the internet or patient leaflets to look at ways to explain in simple terms common
medical problems i.e. diabetes, hypertension, stroke, hypercholesterolaemia. Test these explanations on
your everyday patients in your clinics before using them in your exams

Practising saying theses explanation will make your explanations appear natural and less stuttered

Avoid medical jargon where possible

Contact us: csaprep123@gmail.com visit us www.csaprep.co.uk
CSA course cases ideas concerns and expectations - CSA prep 2011

CSA scenarios with REAL CSA actors

As close to the CSA exam as possible

Individualised feedback from course facilitators

& CSA actors on your performance
o

Use simple vocabulary that is likely to be understood by the recipient. Spend time of thinking of ways to
explain conditions without the use of medical terminologies or jargon.

The patients trust in their doctor may be shaken if their doctor appears to lack confidence in what they
are saying or if they are left confused but what they are hearing

Tailor your explanation to your patient. Avoid offering over simplistic explanations to an educated
patient as this can be received as being condescending. The opposite also applies

Patient leaflets or www.patient.co.uk are a good resource for explanations that lack medical jargon

Pace the amount of information when giving your explanation

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Appropriate pauses are useful to break your explanation in to retainable and digestible chunks

Patients will feel they have an opportunity to interrupt if they are unclear about things

Weave some of the information offered by the patient in your own explanation
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Incorporate as well as acknowledge the patients own understandings when giving your explanation, You
are right when you thought that spicy foods can make indigestion worse

Weave this information into your explanation even if it is incorrect. This demonstrates that you are
listening. I know you said that you were worried that your chest pain was caused by a heart attack as you
had watched it on TV, but I can reassure you that is more likely to be caused by a muscle strain. This is
because

Try to quote the same vocabulary the patient has used in their history where possible in your explanation

Check understanding after you have given your explanation

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Patients will not volunteer that they have not understood something. They may however show non-verbal
cues such as a frown. Offer the patient an opportunity to revisit the explanation

Never attribute lack of understanding to the patient as it can appear rude and condescending Is there
anything you have not understood? Attribute a lack of understanding t o your poor attempt at explaining

Use diagrams or offer leaflets if appropriate

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Occasionally using diagrams or drawings are useful way to explain things

Consider offering practice leaflets to patients. However, do summarise to patient its content rather than
just giving one for the sake of it

Contact us: csaprep123@gmail.com visit us www.csaprep.co.uk

CSA course cases ideas concerns and expectations - CSA prep 2011

CSA scenarios with REAL CSA actors

As close to the CSA exam as possible

Individualised feedback from course facilitators

& CSA actors on your performance

SIGNPOSTING
Do you want me to explain what diabetes is?
From what you have said to me and after examining you I think you have cellulitis.
Do you want me to go through this with you?

CHECK LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING
Tell me what do you already know about COPD?
Have you read or heard anything about it before?
What does diabetes mean to you?

WEAVE THE PATIENTS OWN WORDS IN YOUR EXPLANATION

The room spinning around that you described is because you have
I am a little worried when you said it feels like a hammer hitting your head. I think
it could be
How has it affected your home life? How are things at home?
Has your symptoms affected your relationship?
There are a lot of issues you have said, has it caused any problems at home?

CHECK UNDERSTANDING
I am really sorry but I am worried that I have confused you. Is there anything you
want me to go through again?
Is there anything I have said that I could have made more clear?
I am sensing that you are still worried about something? Am I right?

Contact us: csaprep123@gmail.com visit us www.csaprep.co.uk

CSA course cases ideas concerns and expectations - CSA prep 2011