PLAB 2 Mock test feedback:: Medical Ethics: Elderly Multiple Bruises

Practice this case with the AI patient 🤖

Mock Date: 09/08/2025
Case 1:
Topic: Dermatology; Case UID: Rash8
Case Name: Folliculitis
Action Items:
Practice and Review the case in the OSCE workbench:	Click Here
Watch the (Private) Mock Test Video Recording:	Click Here
Read the Case Blog:	Click Here
Additional Resources:	Click Here
Deep Dive into your (Private) performance below:
Scenario Summary:
Kayla Masterson, an 18-year-old student, presents with a rash in the groin area that appeared two days after a Brazilian wax. She describes the rash as clusters of red bumps and pimples that are itchy and burning. She is generally well, with no fever or other systemic symptoms. She is concerned about the rash being contagious or serious and wants to know the cause and treatment.
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 practising, 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	Patient identifiers: Confirm full name and age	0:09	Yes	You confirmed both her full name and age right at the start. This was clear and appropriate. Keep doing this promptly at the start of each station.
Data Gathering	Acknowledge potential embarrassment: Reassure by saying, "I understand this can be uncomfortable to talk about, but I'm here to help you."	0:35	Yes	You reassured her well about embarrassment. The wording felt natural and supportive, which is exactly what the examiner wants to see.
Data Gathering	Ask about rash onset: "When did you first notice the rash?"	—	No	You didn’t specifically ask when it first appeared. This could have been asked after she first described the rash to help with timeline and differential diagnosis.
Data Gathering	Clarify exact site and number of lesions: "Where exactly is the rash located, and how many bumps can you see?"	1:09	Partial	You clarified the location well, but you did not ask how many lesions were present. Adding that detail helps assess severity and spread.
Data Gathering	Explore progression of rash: "Has the rash changed or spread since it started?"	—	No	You did not ask about changes over time. A simple “Has it been getting better, worse, or the same?” would have helped here.
Data Gathering	Inquire about aggravating or triggering factors: "Did you come into contact with anyone with a similar rash? Any recent travel?" "Have you started using any new soaps, bathing products, or intimate washes recently?"	4:50	Partial	You asked about travel and sauna/swimming, but you didn’t ask about new products, detergents, or contact with others with similar rashes. This could have been slipped in when discussing onset.
Data Gathering	Associated symptoms: Local (itching, pain, swelling, discharge) and systemic (fever, night sweats), burning while urinating, vaginal discharge	1:53	Partial	You covered local symptoms well (itch, burn, discharge) but missed systemic symptoms like fever/night sweats and missed urinary or vaginal discharge questions. These are key for excluding systemic or STI causes.
Data Gathering	Explore sexual history for STI rule-out: "Are you sexually active? Any recent new partners? Do you use protection?"	3:55	Partial	You asked about sexual activity, protection use, and past STI history, but you didn’t ask about new partners specifically. This is important for STI risk assessment.
Data Gathering	Review past medical history and allergies: "Do you have any long-term conditions or allergies? Are you taking any medications?"	3:09	Yes	You covered PMH, allergies, and medications clearly.
Data Gathering	PMAFTOSA: Partners, periods, past medical history, drug history, allergies, psychosocial history	—	Partial	You got PMH, drugs, allergies, partner info, but missed menstrual history and psychosocial history beyond occupation. Period history is relevant in reproductive-age women.
Data Gathering	ICE: Explore patient's ideas, concerns, and expectations	5:12	Yes	You explored all three—her ideas (STI?), concerns (contagious?), and expectations (cause + treatment).
Data Gathering	Examination: Temperature, rash inspection, genital inspection, inguinal lymph node examination	5:55	Partial	You mentioned rash inspection and chaperone but didn’t mention temperature or lymph node exam. Saying “I’d also check for any swollen groin glands” would complete this.
Data Gathering	Systems review: Cardiovascular, respiratory, CNS, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, ENT, eyes, musculoskeletal	—	No	You didn’t ask for other systemic symptoms at all. A quick “Have you noticed any other changes elsewhere in your body?” could have covered this.
Management	Explain diagnosis: Inform her this is likely superficial folliculitis caused by irritation from waxing.	6:11	Yes	You explained clearly and in patient-friendly terms what folliculitis is and its likely cause.
Management	Clarify it's not an STI: Reassure that it's not sexually transmitted and not typically contagious.	—	No	You didn’t directly reassure her that it’s not an STI or contagious, despite her explicitly worrying about this. Addressing this would have significantly reduced her anxiety.
Management	Advise to stop shaving temporarily to allow skin to heal.	—	No	You didn’t specifically tell her to avoid shaving temporarily—only mentioned avoiding waxing by untrained people.
Management	Recommend keeping the area clean and dry: Gently wash with mild soap twice daily.	7:26	Partial	You advised keeping the area clean and dry, but didn’t specify “mild soap” or give a frequency.
Management	Suggest warm compresses: 10–15 minutes, 3–4 times daily to ease discomfort and help healing.	7:17	Partial	You mentioned warm compresses but not the recommended duration and frequency.
Management	Prescribe or advise OTC topical antiseptics: Chlorhexidine or fusidic acid if inflammation is mild.	7:08	Yes	You recommended chlorhexidine wash appropriately.
Management	Prevent recurrence with aftercare: Recommend alcohol-free aftershaves, exfoliation, and using salicylic acid post-waxing.	—	No	You didn’t give aftercare product advice to prevent recurrence.
Management	Counsel on shaving technique: Shave in direction of hair growth using clean, sharp razors and moisturizing shaving products.	—	No	No advice given on shaving technique.
Management	Safety netting and follow-up: Seek help if painful, swollen, or high temperature; consider bacterial testing if recurrent. Advise follow-up if symptoms worsen or recur	7:36	Partial	You said to return if worse, but didn’t specify red flag symptoms or bacterial testing.
Management	Leaflet/Reading Information: Provide information on superficial folliculitis	7:40	Yes	You offered a leaflet, which was good practice.
Interpersonal Skills	Acknowledge and validate patient's emotions: Address embarrassment and worry	0:35	Yes	You did this well both early (embarrassment) and later (concerns).
Interpersonal Skills	Reassure: Explain that medical professionals deal with various health issues	0:50	Yes	You reassured well by normalising the condition.
Interpersonal Skills	Use open and closed questions effectively to gather information	—	Yes	You balanced open (“Can you tell me more?”) and closed (“Is it painful?”) questions well.
Interpersonal Skills	Provide clear and simple explanations for diagnosis and management	6:21	Yes	Your folliculitis explanation was clear and jargon-free.
Interpersonal Skills	Emphasize the importance of self-care and follow-up if symptoms worsen or recur	7:26	Partial	You touched on keeping area clean and dry, but could have been more structured in giving self-care steps.
Interpersonal Skills	Reassure about confidentiality: "Everything we discuss and examine stays confidential."	0:39	Yes	You explicitly reassured about confidentiality, though GMC notes it’s not always necessary—it worked here due to her embarrassment.

	Feedback Statements:	Needs Improvement
Consultation	Disorganised / unstructured consultation. Includes illogical and disordered approach to questioning. You did not demonstrate sufficiently the ability to follow a logical structure in your consultation. For example, your history taking may have appeared disjointed, with your line of questioning erratic and not following reasoned thinking. You may have undertaken practical tasks or examination in an illogical order that suggested you did not have a full grasp of the reason for completing them or a plan for the consultation.
Diagnosis	Does not make the correct working diagnosis or identify an appropriate range of differential possibilities.
Examination	Does not undertake physical examination competently, or use instruments proficiently.
Findings	Does not identify abnormal findings or results or fails to recognise their implications. You did not identify or recognise significant findings in the history, examination or data interpretation.
Issues	Does not recognise the issues or priorities in the consultation (for example, the patient’s key problem or the immediate management of an acutely ill patient). You did not recognise the key element of importance in the station. For example, giving health and lifestyle advice to an acutely ill patient.	✔️
Management	Does not develop a management plan reflecting current best practice, including follow up and safety netting.	✔️
Rapport	Does not appear to develop rapport or show sensitivity for the patient’s feelings and concerns, including use of stock phrases. You did not demonstrate sufficiently the ability to conduct a patient centred consultation. Perhaps you did not show appropriate empathy or sympathy, or understanding of the patient’s concerns. You may have used stock phrases that show that you were not sensitive to the patient as an individual, or failed to seek agreement to your management plan.	✔️
Listening	Does not make adequate use of verbal & non-verbal cues. Poor active listening skills. You did not demonstrate sufficiently that you were paying full attention to the patient’s agenda, beliefs and preferences. For example, you may have asked a series of questions but not listened to the answers and acted on them.
Language	Does not use language or explanations that are relevant and understandable to the patient, including not checking understanding. The examiner may have felt, for example, that you used medical jargon, or spoke too quickly for the patient to take in what you were saying.
Time	Shows poor time management. You showed poor time management, probably taking too long over some elements of the encounter at the expense of other, perhaps more important areas.

Data_gathering	Management	IPS
3	2	3