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Education & training: Iain Pryde, Amrit Sachar, Stephanie Young, Amanda Hukin, Teifion Davies, and Ranga Rao Organising a mock OSCE for the MRCPsych Part I examination Psychiatr Bull 2005; 29: 67-70 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Organising a mock MRCPsych OSCE: time for SHOs to act?

Asim Naeem, Joan Rutherford (Consultant Psychiatrist, SW London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust), Ajay Vijayakrishnan (Senior House Officer in Psychiatry, SW London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust)   (9 March 2005)

Organising a mock MRCPsych OSCE: time for SHOs to act? 9 March 2005
Asim Naeem, Specialist Registrar in Psychiatry Dept. of Mental Health, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London. SW17 0RE., Joan Rutherford (Consultant Psychiatrist, SW London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust), Ajay Vijayakrishnan (Senior House Officer in Psychiatry, SW London & St George's Mental Health NHS Trust) Send letter to journal: Re: Organising a mock MRCPsych OSCE: time for SHOs to act? a.naeem{at}sghms.ac.uk Asim Naeem, et al.	Pryde et al (Psychiatric Bulletin, February 2005, 29, 67-70) provided an excellent practical guide on how to organise a regional mock MRCPsych OSCE, acknowledging its cost implications. To minimise the financial overheads, we find it helpful to use post-Part I SHOs (rather than hiring professional actors) to role-play the patients. Our evaluations have found them to be accurate in simulating patient symptoms, and responding consistently to 'non-scripted' questions from the candidates. As most of them will be familiar with the OSCE format, they can contribute to the writing of the stations (by ensuring that they are pitched at the correct level), and provide helpful feedback to candidates on additional aspects of OSCE technique. Unlike most examiners, they will have previously been through the exam as candidates. Most of our SHOs have also reported that their own skills of empathy are enhanced by acting in the patient or carer role, thereby fulfilling one of the six interactive components of 'patient -centred psychiatry' (Bhugra & Holsgrove, 2005). Whilst there can be a risk of some station details being 'leaked' to the candidates by their peers, we have found that this is generally not the case. In the current climate of financial restrictions on Trusts, maybe it is time for SHOs to 'act'? They may even find the experience fun, supporting Sir John Gielgud's view that "being another character is more interesting than being yourself!" REFERENCE: BHUGRA D & HOLSGROVE G (2005). Patient-centred psychiatry. Psychiatric Bulletin, 29, 49-52.