OSCE and Clinical Skills Handbook

During their education, medical students must learn and develop the fundamental history-taking and physical examination skills to prepare them for their medical careers. In an effort to standardize the clinical evaluations of these skills, North American medical schools use Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). Medical students and residents perform clinical tasks with a simulated patient and the student is evaluated on the questions that are asked of the “patient” and how the physical examination is conducted. These are generally evaluated in a checklist manner, with appropriate actions receiving a checkmark. Most medical schools use this form of evaluation as early as the first year of medicine. The OSCE and Clinical Skills Handbook was designed as a study aid for medical students preparing for these examinations. It summarizes important history and physical examination skills but also presents the information in a Q & A format, designed to facilitate both individual and group study. It is a practical review for medical students of all levels. The various disorders are described in such a way as to guide the less experienced while also including a more sophisticated multi-system perspective. The OSCE and Clinical Skills Handbook will be a valuable comprehensive reference to which any level of student can return often. By Katrina F. Hurley, MD, MHI, FRCPC, Director, Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University Table of Contents: Introduction What is an OSCE? How is an OSCE Graded? How Should I Prepare for an OSCE? How To Use This Book Professionalism Communication Cross-Cultural Communication Breaking Bad News Medical History Documentation Summative Objectives Abbreviations Chapter 1: Cardiovascular System Chapter 2: Respiratory System Chapter 3: Gastrointestinal System Chapter 4: Genitourinary System Chapter 5: Nervous System Chapter 6: Musculoskeletal System Chapter 7: Dermatology Chapter 8: Hematology Chapter 9: Endocrinology Chapter 10: Psychiatry Chapter 11: Obstetrics and Gynecology Chapter 12: Pediatrics Chapter 13: Geriatrics Chapter 14: Ethics Appendix A: Sample In-Depth OSCE Case