PLAB 2 Mock Test Feedback :: Referral Pathway :: Teaching

Mock Date: 15/03/2025

Action Items:

• Practice and Review the case in the OSCE workbench: Click Here

• Read the Mock Feedback Blog:  Click Here

• Additional Resources: Click Here

• Deep Dive into your performance below:

enario Summary:

You are an FY2 doctor in a general practice setting. Your colleague, Hank Shrader, is a 3rd-year medical student who has requested guidance on the process of making referrals to specialists. Hank is curious and eager to learn more about the different types of referrals, effective ways to discuss referrals with patients, and how to ensure patients understand the need for referrals.

My Performance:

🔍Let’s Deep Dive into your performance:

The Domain-wise evaluation shows areas where you did well and others where you have room to grow. 

• A "Yes" means you covered that point effectively

• A "Partial" indicates that you did some of it well but missed some key details. 

• A "No" means there was an important opportunity that wasn’t addressed.

Don’t worry if you see several areas marked "No" or "Partial"—this is common and simply highlights where you can focus your learning. 

By reflecting on these areas and practicing, you’ll be able to improve and feel more confident in your consultations. Remember, every bit of feedback is an opportunity to grow, and you’re on the right path by taking these steps.

Timestamps are provided to show exactly when during the consultation you covered or missed key points. Reviewing these can help you see how well you're managing your time and where you might need to be more efficient in addressing important areas.

Domain	Point	Timestamp	Response	Remarks
Data Gathering	Friendly Greeting: Begin with a warm and informal introduction. Example: 'Hi, you must be Hank. I’m Dr. [Your Name], one of the FY2 doctors. How is your rotation going?'	0:12:00	No	You introduced yourself formally but did not offer a warm, informal greeting. A more engaging start, such as “Hi, you must be Hank! I’m Dr. Oluwakarie. How’s your rotation going?” would have built better rapport.
Data Gathering	Engage in Small Talk: Ask about their current rotation and overall medical school experience to build rapport. Example: 'How are you finding the clinical rounds so far?'	00:24 - 00:39	Partial	You asked about the stage of medical school but did not engage in further small talk about Hank’s experience. A simple follow-up like “How are you finding clinical rotations?” would have strengthened rapport.
Data Gathering	Give him future opportunity to reach out in case he has any doubt or want to discuss any topic in the future	-	No	You did not explicitly invite Hank to reach out if he had further questions. A simple closing line like “Feel free to reach out if anything isn’t clear” would have helped.
Data Gathering	Understand what the student wants to know about the topic	00:45 - 00:51	Yes	You directly asked Hank what he wanted to discuss and clarified his doubts effectively.
Data Gathering	Gauge Understanding: Ask open-ended questions to determine their current knowledge. Example: 'What do you know so far about the referral process?'	01:08 - 01:15	Yes	You effectively asked Hank about his prior knowledge before proceeding, which was a good approach.
Management	Discuss Various Types of Referrals: Immediate, Very Urgent, Urgent, and Non-Urgent (Routine) referrals.	02:14 - 04:44	Yes	You covered urgent, two-week, and routine referrals thoroughly, explaining their importance with examples.
Management	Discuss who can make the referral	-	No	You did not specify who can make referrals (e.g., GPs, specialists, or other healthcare professionals). It would have been useful to state that different professionals may initiate referrals.
Management	Discuss when a referral should be made	02:14 - 04:44	Yes	You provided clear scenarios for when referrals should be made, including cases like suspected cancer and TIAs.
Management	Content of a Referral Letter: Discuss what to include such as referral priority, referring clinician’s details, patient details, reason for referral, significant medical history, current medication, relevant family history, and preliminary investigations and results.	04:57 - 06:14	Partial	You covered several aspects of the referral letter, such as patient details, NHS number, clinical findings, and preliminary investigations. However, you missed discussing referral priority, relevant family history, and current medications explicitly.
Management	Suggest Reputable Resources: 'I recommend checking the NHS website for more information on referrals.'	7:32:00	Yes	You directed the student to the NHS website, which was appropriate. However, instead of just referring him, a quick summary of what he might find useful on the website would have added more value.
Interpersonal Skills	Active Listening and Responding: Listen and respond sympathetically to Hank’s questions and concerns.	02:09 - 06:49	Partial	You did listen to Hank and responded, but your responses were quite fact-based. A little more acknowledgment of his concerns would have improved the interaction.
Interpersonal Skills	Empathy and Understanding: Show appropriate empathy and tailor the conversation to Hank’s individual needs.	-	No	There were no clear instances where you acknowledged Hank’s confusion or reassured him. A simple “I understand that this can be confusing, let me break it down for you” would have made a big difference.
Interpersonal Skills	Clear and Understandable Language: Use language Hank understands, avoiding medical jargon.	02:14 - 06:49	Yes	You explained concepts in an understandable way and avoided unnecessary jargon.
Interpersonal Skills	Asks at least 3 questions to gauge the understanding	01:08, 02:30, 04:07	Yes	You asked multiple questions to assess Hank’s understanding, which was well done.
Interpersonal Skills	Identifies mistakes in understanding and properly corrects it.	5:12:00	Partial	You corrected Hank when he missed details in the referral letter, but there were missed opportunities to check his understanding of referral urgency classifications.
Interpersonal Skills	Correct Misunderstandings Politely	5:12:00	Yes	You corrected Hank’s response in a polite and supportive manner, which was well-handled.

Feedback Statement Checklist

	Feedback Statements:	Needs Improvement
Consultation
Diagnosis
Examination
Findings
Issues	You did well in covering referral types but missed who can refer.	✔️
Management	You missed discussing who can refer.	✔️
Rapport	Empathy could have been stronger.	✔️
Listening
Language
Time