Friday 18 January 2019

Top 5 Guaranteed Tips to Pass MRCGP CSA

The MRCGP is an assessment system, which establishes that a doctor has undergone and completed training for general practice and can independently practice in the United Kingdom. It comprises three major components:

  1. Applied Knowledge Test (AKT)
  2. Clinical Assessments Test (CSA)
  3. Workplace Based Assessment (WBA) 

All the above components of the MRCGP test requires knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes set by the RCGP. The doctors who clear receive the completion of training (CCT) and full membership of the RCGP.
When asked students regarding their experience of MRCGP, most reflect on CSA to be the most nerve-wracking. CSA puts the candidates in real-life situations and assesses their communication skills and clinical knowledge when applied to general practice. Each move of the candidate is monitored - from making eye contact with the patient to completing the prescriptions.

Clearing the CSA requires smart planning, professional guidance, and clinical knowledge. Are you preparing for MRCGP CSA? This blog has for you a collection of tips that will make the CSA ride a smooth one.

1Understand the Exam:

MRCGP CSA consists of simulated surgery compromising 13 cases - played by simulated patients. Each case will be different, with at least 1 child health case, and 3 cases with prescriptions. You will be given 2 minutes to go through the case notes and 10 minutes for the consultation. A different examiner will be assigned to assess each case. The candidates will be assessed on 3 domains:

  1. Data gathering
  2. Clinical management
  3. Interpersonal skills

For passing each domain, you receive either clear pass, pass, fail, or clear fail. The total score determines whether you have cleared or failed the examination.

2. Join Professional Training:

Enrolling into professional training early on for the preparation of CSA will be of great help. The training will help you in identifying the role of the doctor, patient, and the observer. Some of the best CSA Courses will introduce you to the course, unlock the psychology of the exam, introduce you to techniques and methods, teach A-Z of CSA cases, and offer top insider tips.

CSA ABC’s MRCGP video courses, consultation videos, Revision, and Skype coaching give you the benefit of preparing in the comfort of your home. This is the best way to prepare, as it gives you the freedom to re-read and refer as many times as you want, which isn’t possible in physical classes. You can check more details at https://www.csaabc.co.uk/.

3. Observe others:

Observing carefully can actually teach you the drill well. Go for surgeries where you sit and observe your trainer and other members. This way you will be able to grasp and pick up habits and experiences from colleagues. You can study their approach and how they explain certain conditions to their patients. But don’t feel that you need to copy them, do what comes naturally to you.

4. Learn to Manage Your Time:

You will be given 2 minutes to read the case notes and 10 minutes for the consultation, which means you need to manage your time. Candidates that fail to do so receive a low score in the management domain. Try to get comfortable with consultation time before sitting for the final exam. It can be difficult for candidates who take 15-16 minutes per case to perform well on the final day.

5. Focus on all Domains:

Remember the three domains we mentioned in point 1? You need to focus on all 3 in every case. A common myth about CSA is that it is all about communication skills. But it isn’t the only domain you need to focus on.

Data gathering is about understanding the history and examination. The clinical management domain is to go through diagnosis, discuss risks, and discuss the follow-up. The interpersonal domain is about building a pleasant relationship with the patient and explaining the diagnosis and results in a concise manner.
We hope the above 5 tips gave you an insight into preparing well for the CSA exam. To pass the CSA, you need to have the skills and knowledge to practice safely without supervision. Enrolling into professional CSA Courses will help you master each domain.

CSA ABC has some of the best revision courses, video courses, consultation videos, preparation material, and Skype coaching. The free CSA preparation booklet available at CSA ABC focuses on the basics of the exam and the necessary techniques.
Visit the website for more details https://www.csaabc.co.uk/

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