PLAB2 is not confined to merely scholarly knowledge but, also, is a combination of relational skills and multiple management of the station. Besides being aware of what to say is it’s indeed essential to aware of what not to.
This is the list of typical clichés and questions that PLAB 2 candidates end up saying but it is not advisable actually.
‘May I ask you some questions?’
A usual thought for many PLAB2 takers is: “why would I be worried about a seemingly simple question?” However, I suggest that you try to take a break and rethink the situation. This is the question you ask yourself when you are in it as a doctor in your practice every day.No, right? Patient feels it strange to hear the doctor say this because usually they ask the patient about the problem and then they start treating.
In one case, ‘May I examine you?’ before performing the physical exam is the right thing to ask as you need to verify your consent.
“Do you mind if I ask you some personal questions?” or “Do you mind if I ask you some few private questions?”
You have been told to signal change and then ask questions that you need to switch the context of the discussion to medical and personal issues and it makes sense but saying ‘May I ask you some personal questions?’ followed by ‘Tell me if you drink alcohol?’ just sounds very strange. Hence, the patient can start feeling ashamed of his/her condition in the extreme situation. ‘Could I probe/inquire/learn more about your lifestyle habits’?- a more natural way to speak than what is suggested in the question.
‘‘ Is your name and age correct?’’
It is more a dialogue than an investigation and this explains the fact that you are affected emotionally by the person voicing a query yet you do not give the age or name. The patient’s full name is labels on the cards in the stations and is brief, so, you have already greet them. If you want to have the address right (at least from formal standpoint) one can ask “Would you prefer to be called ‘Jon’ or ‘Mr Snow’?”. This way, instead of the interrogative tone one can choose for his introduction whether formal or informal. And when they finally ask you for their names, you better skip the formalities and just stick to Jon.
‘Anything you tell me is not to be disclosed to the third party’
This is rather misleading maxims that usually overuse or applied out of context become inappropriate eventually. Therefore, a lot of focus should be directed on addressing this. The wrong thing candidates do is make this statement when they’re not getting the reaction they expected or too soon in a term of a counsel to hurry it up fast. Use it only as minimal as you think it is crucial for the patient to not reveal his/her details, which is the reason he/she may not be speaking.
‘I would probably talk to my seniors.’
It may seem to you that –“Is this like the way safe doctors do?” Yes, you are correct but the overstated way of saying this in this context can be very weird. A unique feature of our concept is the approach of the stations that are aimed at students aged 12-18 and are based on the topics of the Federal Curriculum Grades 7-9. Whether an intervention from a higher health care worker is needed or not, you can say so. However, saying for example, ‘I’ll ask my senior’, while responding to a patient who is struggling with DVLA and therefore, wants to start work as a chauffeur is inappropriate.
Envisaging the situation through PLAB2 guide becomes a normal day in your medical practice and act naturally. It will sound like a natural answer. In case you spit out pre-prepared phrases that you won’t usually say, it will be impossible to pass them for natural speech and convey requisite mood.Be yourself!Be natural!