PLAB 2 Mock Test Feedback :: MRSA Colonization :: Counseling

Mock Date: 01/01/2025

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:

Scenario Summary:

You are an FY2 doctor in the medical unit. Mrs. Thompson, the wife of Mr. Thompson, a 55-year-old man who was admitted with acute exacerbation of COPD, is concerned because her husband has been moved to a separate room after testing positive for MRSA from a nose swab taken three days ago. Your task is to explain the situation to Mrs. Thompson and alleviate her concerns.

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	Introduction and Rapport: Greet Mrs. Thompson warmly and introduce yourself.	0:11	Yes	You greeted Mrs. Thompson and introduced yourself clearly. This set a good tone for the consultation.
Data Gathering	Confirm her identity and relationship to the patient.	0:17	Yes	You confirmed her name and relationship effectively. Well done on ensuring patient safety and context.
Data Gathering	Use open-ended questions to understand her agenda.	1:04	Yes	You used open-ended questions like “What concerns bring you here today?” to elicit her agenda. Excellent approach.
Data Gathering	Explore related symptoms and their impact on daily life.	5:07	Partial	You asked about COPD, but more focus on exploring the emotional impact and daily life challenges (e.g., how isolation affects her husband or her caregiving routine) would have improved depth.
Data Gathering	Gather relevant past medical, family, and social history.	2:00	Yes	You explored past medical history, smoking, and alcohol consumption appropriately.
Data Gathering	Assess lifestyle factors and psychological impacts, if applicable.	5:40	Partial	You briefly discussed smoking and alcohol but missed addressing her psychological state and stress related to her husband's condition. More exploration of her emotional well-being would be helpful.
Management	Explain MRSA colonization: harmless presence of bacteria, potential to spread.	6:30	Yes	You explained MRSA colonization effectively, addressing its harmlessness and potential to spread. Great clarity!
Management	Discuss hospital measures: isolation, hygiene, protective gear.	7:45	Yes	You detailed isolation and hygiene precautions thoroughly. Good explanation of preventive measures.
Management	Explain treatment options: topical antibiotics, antibacterial washes, etc.	7:50	Yes	You provided clear information about treatment steps, including washes and creams. Well done!
Management	Offer follow-up arrangements for evaluation and support.		Partial	You mentioned follow-up vaguely. Explicitly offering a concrete follow-up plan would strengthen this aspect.
Management	Provide additional resources like leaflets or support groups.	7:20	Yes	You mentioned providing a leaflet about MRSA. This is a great addition to support her understanding.
Management	Safety Netting: Advise on when to seek further medical help.		Partial	While you mentioned seeing a GP for MRSA testing, explicit advice on when to seek further help (e.g., signs of infection) was missing.
Interpersonal Skills	Empathy and Respect: Demonstrate understanding and respect for feelings.	04:45, 07:30	Yes	You showed empathy and acknowledged her distress effectively. Well done for maintaining a patient-centered approach.
Interpersonal Skills	Clear and Simple Communication: Avoid jargon and check for understanding.	6:30	Partial	You explained MRSA clearly but used “Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus” without checking understanding. Simplify language further and confirm her grasp.
Interpersonal Skills	Professional Boundaries: Maintain professionalism while being approachable.	Throughout	Yes	You maintained professionalism and warmth throughout. Great balance between approachability and professionalism.
Interpersonal Skills	Acknowledge positive efforts in managing her husband's condition.	7:45	Yes	You praised her for being a supportive wife, which was thoughtful and encouraging.
Interpersonal Skills	Reassure: Offer hope for improvement with proper adjustments.	7:50	Partial	You reassured her generally but could have been more specific about the expected outcomes of MRSA treatment and infection prevention.
Interpersonal Skills	Offer to arrange a follow-up appointment for further concerns.		Partial	While you mentioned discussing with seniors, explicitly offering to arrange a follow-up would have been better.

Feedback Statement Checklist

	Feedback Statements:	Needs Improvement
Consultation	Needs improvement in organizing safety-netting and psychological exploration​.	✔️
Diagnosis
Examination
Findings
Issues	Missed delving into her psychological concerns fully​.	✔️
Management	Missed explicit advice on signs requiring urgent action​.	✔️
Rapport
Listening
Language	Jargon (e.g., full MRSA term) without checking understanding​.	✔️
Time

Additional Remarks

Data Gathering

I appreciate how you explored medical and social history, but remember to probe more into psychological impacts. Asking, "How has all this affected you emotionally?" can reveal underlying concerns.

Management

While your explanations were clear, consider structuring follow-ups concretely. For example, "I’ll arrange a call in few days to review progress."

Interpersonal Skills

Your empathy was genuine. To enhance communication, ensure to check understanding after explaining medical terms like “colonization.”