Exam preparation
Oncology post graduate learners
Updated NOV-2016
EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS NOV-2016
Background
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EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS 2016
Working towards Exam
• Self Assessment
• SchedulingDidactic
(Non clinical)
ClinicalPredefined
Learning Objective
Apprentice-ship Structured
what examiners are expecting from us ?
Why preparing for Exam from Day – 01 ???
EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS 2016
3 IMP. ASPECTSwhat examiners are expecting
from us ?1. SUBJECT GRIP
2. MATURITY
3.SAFETYEXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
ASSESSMENT LEVELS
• SIMPLE RECALL
• SYNTHESIS
• ANALYSIS
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CLINICAL EXIT EXAM
• Specialty based
• Covers fundamentals - but –
• Clinical scenario is more important
• .i.e. ‘’patient centered approach ! ’’
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At Study plan stage• - studying ‘’a’’ clinical scenario• While studying ‘’a’’ tumor
• Remember :• Always take a bigger broader picture• Narrate ‘’FULL’’ plan – not in piecemeal• Leave rare ones, e.g. >5% occurring
issuesEXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
At Study plan stage• - studying ‘’a’’ clinical scenario• While studying ‘’a’’ tumor
• Remember :• Always take a bigger broader picture• Narrate ‘’FULL’’ plan – not in piecemeal• Leave rare ones,e.g. >5% occurring
issues
95%
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…why..confusion arises..The same old number game
• 100 ;90• 80• 70
•60• 50• 40• 30
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So, what is ??
• Subject grip
• Maturity
• SAFETY = ‘zero tolerance’
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Clinical scenario
• Patient
……………………patient centred………
Don’t lose sight of ‘ ’patient’’ ( away from Books ! ) …e.g.
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Clinical scenario
• This is a 42 years old lady with a skin lesion at her right cheek , refusing surgery, biopsy is sq cell ca.
• o/e findings are……………..
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Clinical scenario
• This is a 42 years old lady with a skin lesion at her right cheek , refusing surgery, biopsy is sq cell ca.
• o/e 1x1 cm lesion, raised, rolled edges, irregular, no palpable nodes in face and neck
• How will you treat this patient
EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS 2016
Clinical scenario
• This is a 42 years old lady with a skin lesion at her right cheek , refusing surgery, biopsy is sq cell ca.
• o/e 1x1 cm lesion, raised, rolled edges, irregular, no palpable nodes in face and neck
• How will you treat this patient
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v.v.v.Important !!Over-emphasizing on this Fact
How Will YOU treat THIS Patient
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How Will YOU treat THIS Patient
• This is a Simple Question asked in Exam.• There can be more than ‘’ONE’’ way of
treating a Patient• Examiner is ‘’NOT’’ asking that How many
Options are written in the Reference Book• Remember in Short Case we have only
7.5 MINUTES / Even Less in VivaEXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
…avoid..options !!!
One clinical scenario = One management plan
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…avoid..options !!!
One clinical scenario = One management plan *
*= except in Long Case where Examiner can change the Scenario ( remember new
scenario = new Plan of Treatment )Refer to : page 05 Orange Book
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Avoid ‘’Ifs’’ & ‘Buts’……be straight
FocusedTo the point – avoid mentioning
various options !!!!EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
…imp tip…
• [may not be relevant for all examinees]
• Keep a pen and rough papers in pocket to write down imp, points, esp. in long case,,but can be used in viva as well
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..name of the game is…..
Practice,,practice,,practiceMOCKS !
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What is self assessment ?
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ANSWER IN A FLOW
e.g. RT / CHEMO plan-practice
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Now !!Common Issues which come
across Candidates during Exams
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What shall I do ‘’if’’ I have not seen certain treatment during
my training period ?
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• Ideally this should not happen – see the list
• All strategies have to be covered
• But still if ‘’not’’ seen and done
• E.g. HDR, CT Sim, Brachy,Lkma Chemo,etc,etc,etc,,
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• Say truthfully to the Examiner that uptill now in my Career I have not used _____(eg Interstitial Brachy ) in any patient…
• --------BUT--------• I know the Indications, procedure and
complications of this kind of treatment..
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..prompting…….
.vs…Hints !!!
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RT• Any Technique of your own choice – but
it’s Important to know all 2 D
• NEATLY DRAWN DIAGRAMS
• FIELDS – BOTH ENTRY & EXIT
• OAR ( MENTION WITH OUT PROMPT )
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CHEMO
• MAIN REGIMENS ONLY
• BUT SHOULD HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF SECOND/THIRD LINES of Common Tumos
• NEW AGENTS !!!! ***
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Written paper !
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,,some tips…
• Try to understand structuring• Mock with ‘’time watch ‘’• 20 questions = stemna required• 10 per paper• Clinical scenario = data given• Descriptive question• Short notes
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Written paper
• Read at least 3 times before answering• Use bullet points• Avoiding long sentences• Time – per question• Attempt all
• What can go wrong
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Long Case!
…what can go wrong….
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Distinct ‘’2’’ parts• ?? Lets take a tour !!• Over simplified example = 20 x 3 = 60• C a n v a r y • 1st part = with patient no Q/A• 2nd part = Viva re; this patients • 3rd part = closing discussion on this patient
and opening new scenarios ‘generally’’ re; same tumor.
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LONG CASE
• Time = 60 minutes• Distribution of time• Understanding the structuring• And keeping stemna• Time vs number • 3 portions !!! ( c a n v a r y ! ! )
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Short Case!
.what can go wrong ??.......
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Short case.. Imp. points
• Time distribution• 1.5 minutes = history + exam (or Exam
only)• 7.5 minutes• description• Treatment Option ??? Is the Question• Be vigilant ; mocks ++++, one plan • no options ( as time is too short )
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Table Viva !
…..what’s important..?...Step by step !!!
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Table Viva
• Specific case• General discussion
• To start with ::::>>> Main skill required = radiology ( very very obvious)
-- Go Thru Image Library
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Exam techniques!
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Some special tips ! !
• Mention MDT whenever appropriate• Follow a flow• If interrupted – listen carefully
• Understand the ‘’safe’’ number game !• Remember 3 factors ; subject
grip/maturity/safety
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The number game; re-visited !
• Below 40
• 40 to 60
• 60 to 70
• 70 plus
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The magic numberAim for 20 + in self
assessments & mocks
60EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
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..the nuisance/annoyance factor
• What is border line approach
• Subjective vs objective approaches
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…what is subjectivity ?
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Don’t be Paranoid !99.9% Candidates Fail because of
their ‘’OWN’’ Wrong Answers…Not Always because of :-
-Lack of Knowledge-but exam technique issues
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Exam Day
• Long Stemna required• Breathing Exercises• No one knows all 100% Answers• You can easily transform the weaknesses
of this ‘’easy’’ professional Exam for your benefit
• And Plan the Day properly
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1-2-3-4-5-61-23-45-X6-Y
LC---SC---VV-1---VV-21 + 3or4 + 4 + 4 +/- 4EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
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• THE ANXIETY FACTOR !!!!
• HOW MUCH ‘’AWARENESS’’ OF TECHNIQUE HELPS !!
• LENIENCY vs PATIENT SAFETY
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• IF KNWOLEDGE BASE IS WEAK ?
• LUCK ALWAYS HELPS TRAINED [BRAVE] MINDS
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…expectations ….
…from a person Exiting Professional Examination !!
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There is ‘’NO ’’ point in Blaming Exam System –OR—
Examiners
After extensive Counseling Sessions and Feedback Reviews we came to know that Cause of Failure is always the Examinees
Lack of Correct Answering of QsEXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
So, if we can address it !!We will NOT have any
problems
As a Life long Learner, we will be studying forever,,Exam is only a
Milestone mark….EXAM PREP ONCO LERNERS
2016
• PRIORITY LIST FOR SETTING UP• SELF LEARNING STUDY PLAN
• 5 – phased revision plan,,,,,,,to cover all important areas,,,,,,,,,
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A. DEFINITIVE TREATMENT • Larynx• Nasopharynx• Oesophagus• Prostate• Anal Canal• Cervix• Germ cell Tumors• Paediatric Sarcoma
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B-ADJUVANT
• Oral Cavity• Breast• Colon• Rectum• Sarcoma• Oesophagus
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C. NEO ADJUVANT
• Rectum ( e.g.Sphincter preservation)• Breast (LABC)• NPC - Advanced
• Sarcoma ( e.g.limb salvage)
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Best of Luck !!!
Cancer Patients are Anxiously Waiting for Trained Specialists
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