ABSTRACT
A consultation between a patient and a hospital doctor typically follows the sequence was all taught at medical school: history, examination and investigations, leading to diagnosis and then on to treatment. If the consultation in question is a clinical skills assessment (CSA) case, ‘successful’ would mean scoring maximum marks in every section of the marking schedule: ‘data gathering,’ ‘clinical management’ and ‘interpersonal skills.' All exams are stressful, and the CSA particularly so. In an exam, when general practice trainees nervous and full of adrenalin, it's easy to forget the principles of good consulting General practice trainees learned during their training. All exams are stressful, and the CSA particularly so. In an exam, when general practice trainees nervous and full of adrenalin, it's easy to forget the principles of good consulting they learned during their training.
