CSA

HOW CAN I PREPARE FOR IT?

• First of all, understand what the CSA is all about – how it works and what it is trying to test.    A lot of this information is available on this webpage.   More information is available on the RCGP CSA pages.
• Form a CSA study group early on with some of your colleagues.   Around about 6-8 members per group is about right.    Try and get a diverse membership so that different members can provide unique and different perspectives on things.
• Some of you may want to do additional practice in pairs.   If that’s the case don’t just stick to giving direct feedback to each other after practising a case.   You all have video cameras – go further by videoing your performance and reviewing it together.    We often can’t see how we really perform when we are in the process of performing and our memories are often unreliable too.
• Candidates who have got their primary medical qualification abroad (i.e. international medical graduates) – PLEASE do not form a CSA group full of other international medical graduates.   You need to mix in with those who graduated from the UK to widen your cultural perspective on specific cases.   That’s not to say you can’t have other international medical graduates in your group; all we are saying is to make sure there is a balanced mix of different people in your group.   Some international medical graduates can often get it fixed into their heads what they think will get them through the exam – and often, these notions are completely wrong.  But what is worse is when they pass that same advice onto their colleagues.  But if you were part of a diverse group, then you’d be able to check those notions out.
• Our training programme (and most other schemes) will run mock CSAs twice a year to help you get practice and help you become familiar with what is expected. You must avail yourself of this opportunity.
• There’s a DVD out by the RCGP called: A guide to the Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA). For all doctors teaching or preparing for the new Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) of the MRCGP. It costs around £20. Go to their website to purchase it: www.rcgp.org.acatalog
• Check out the Pennine Scheme’s YouTube site for some excellent demonstrations of consulting with patients.

1. In this clip, Matt Smith explores important points to cover in the first 5 minutes of the consultation.
2. In this clip, Matt Smith explores important points to cover in the second 5 minutes of the consultation.
3. To see all of the Pennine Scheme’s YouTube video resources, click here.

• Practice CSA scenarios: there are many books around (look at our bookshop on our homepage) and many freely available on the web.   There’s loads of Practice CSA Scenarios from the Pennine Scheme (click here).

These are the 3 areas you will be tested on:

1. In Data Gathering, they are testing communication skills AS WELL AS clinical skills like clinical examination; around 3 stations will involve clinical examination.
2. Clinical management includes synthesis, diagnosis, appreciation of co-morbidity, flexibility and sharing management options with the patient.
3. Interpersonal skills include, communication, respect for others, professionalism and other behavioural indicators.

And finally, always safety net! (ask your trainer if you don’t know what this means)

Some cases require examination: bring your normal doctor’s bag & equipment with you