Oral Examination ReviewPHM 421

Exam Overview

• Format

• Logistics of day

• Content

Format of Exam

• 40% of course mark

• duration: 3 hours

• two parts to exam

Part A: 80% of exam - oral component

Part B: 20% of exam - written component

Format of Exam

Part A: 80% of exam - oral component

Total time: 2 hours

Evaluated on:

- integration/application of knowledge (80%)

- verbal communication skills (20%)

Two examiners will evaluate each student

Format of Exam

Part A: (2 hours)

On entering the exam room, you will be asked to put away all books. You will be given a card to write your name on.

You will then be given a patient case; examiner will indicate specific areas to be discussed

You will have 15 minutes to review the case and make any notes (paper available)

Examination will then start; total time: 1hr, 45 mins; all exams will be audio-taped

Format of Exam

Part A: (2 hours)

Examiner will ask students to list signs and Sx and urgency; will be written on board or flip-chart (this component not included on exam)

Students will then be asked questions about the case using the therapeutic thought process to identify DRPs and to develop a pharmacy care plan (approximately 7-9 questions each)

Format of Exam

Part A: (2 hours)

One examiner will ask questions; the other will be observing, making notes, etc.

Examiners are instructors from the Therapeutics courses (lectures & CSS)

You will not have an instructor who would have evaluated you in a CSS

Format of Exam

Part A: (2 hours)

All examiners are trained during a 3-hour workshop

There will be 16 examiners (7 or 8 exams will take place at one time)

Case and expected responses will be set by coordinator and examiners will be instructed on the “expected level”

Assessment forms are the same as for PHM 321

Format of Exam

At the end of Part A, all papers will be collected.

The material for Part B will be given out; invigilators will remain in room.

At the end of Part B, students will be directed to use the back stairs to exit the Faculty

Format of Exam

Part B: 20% of exam - written component

Duration: 1 hour

Consists of:

- multiple choice questions & short-answer questions (15%)

- documentation question (5%) - similar to the format discussed in class

Logistics of the day

Please ensure that you are in the student lounge at least 15 minutes before your scheduled exam time!

If you arrive after exam has started, you will not be permitted to join your group.

You will be escorted to your exam room 5 minutes before the exam start time.

Logistics of the day

If you have any potential conflict with an instructor, please ask to speak to me right away!

For session I, you will be asked to stay in the exam room until the completion of the exam

If you have any constructive feedback about the exam, please pass them to me

Helpful tips in preparing for the exam

• Review cases discussed in class; review readings

• then, looking at the case, try to think how the management of this patient would change if he/she had different RF or presented differently– i.e. know how options would change based on

patient presentation and know when would drug B be more appropriate than drug A, etc.

• discuss cases / questions with a study partner

Content

• Topics include:– Oncology - Pain, Diarrhea, Sleep disorders,

Anxiety, depression, BAD, Psychosis, Seizure disorders, Migraine, CRF, ARF, CHF.

– Oncology pain: • appropriate agents to use for cancer pain

• adverse effects of pain relievers and management

• appropriate administration/regimens

Content

• Oncology - diarrhea:• drugs which induce diarrhea

• management of chemotherapy induced diarrhea

• Sleep disorders:• as per class discussion - case and integrated case

• thought process for insomnia, comparison of pharmacological agents (between and within classes), ability to choose appropriate agent

• endpoints and outcomes

Content

• Anxiety• pros and cons of different therapeutic choices for

anxiety as reviewed yesterday (BZD, buspirone, SSRIs)

• Depression• as per class discussion - case and integrated case

• thought process for depression, risk factors, comparison of pharmacological agents (between and within classes), adverse effects, drug interactions, ability to choose appropriate agent, endpoints

Content

• BAD: • focus on adverse effects of agents, their management and

monitoring for effect or adverse effects

• Psychosis: • do not need to know specific antipsychotic doses

• comparison of agents categories - atypical vs typical

• types of side effects with the various agents (some common ones, some that may be less common but serious)

Content• Seizure disorders:

• as per class discussion; readings are good review

• thought process for seizures, symptoms, reasons to treat patients, comparison of pharmacological agents, ability to choose appropriate agent, care plan

• Migraine: • as per class discussion, readings are good review

• thought process for treatment & prophylaxis, symptoms, triggers, comparison of pharmacological agents, ability to choose appropriate agent, care plan

• need to understand pathophysiology, but do not need to know it in extensive detail

Content

• CRF & ARF: • based on class discussion

• complications of conditions and appropriate management

• monitoring of these conditions progression

• monitoring of drug therapy

• CHF: • multiple choice questions

• will not be a topic for the oral exam portion

All the best on your exam and I wish you an enjoyable and relaxing holiday season!!