MRCOG part 2 OSCE exam preparation

OSCE is an examination of how the candidate is fit to run a clinic or a labour ward as a Registrar in UK. Exam is purely oriented to UK setting. As we all know, OSCE has twelve stations. Each station would have different scenarios, with actors and examiners in each station.
The first step, I would suggest , in preparation of OSCE is to look into these websites : www.patient.co.uk

 (professional plus) , www.nhs.co.uk

 . These give the latest advice to patietns, which we would actually give to patients in a clinic. The simple language in which we ought to explain to patients in clinic, will be easier to learn from these sites.


Once cleared the theory, it would be wise to attend at least two OSCE courses in UK and then appear for exams particularly when appearing from outside UK. Nottingham , taele fenning courses , royal free courses are useful. For those who do not have UK experience, If you get atleast two weeks clinical attachment , it will be useful for the exam.
http://www.tealefenning.co.uk/

http://www.mrcogdrcog.com/MRCOG2.html

http://mrcogadvantage.com/Papers/papers.html

An useful site for preparation and samples is ; http://www.drcog-mrcog.info/Sample%20OSCE%20questions.htm

The most essentail part of OSCE exam is 'Practice,Practice, practice scenarios'.. Confidence in speaking & Communication skills are most essentially tested here than clinical knowledge which , you would have been tested already in theory. Hence, Practice the scenarios with colleagues or family acting as patients.


Labour ward prioritisation or Gyane theatre list prioritisation are definite Scenarios.


Clinical GOVERNANCE is an important issue in UK. It is mandatory to know about seven pillars of Clinical Governance and its implications in OBGYN practice.Please practice Scenarios like Adverse events analysis, Risk management, Interpreting Audit results, - as atleast one scenario would be from Clinical Governance.




I hope I have covered mostly what I know of and have been advising others whoever prepares for the MRCOG exam.Please feeel free to add more tips here. Best wishes to all those appearing for the EXAM.


 Once you have cleared the exam, you will feel , 'What was all the fuss about?'.


 So, Good luck to all.

MRCOG part 2 THEORY exam preparation

MRCOG part 2 exam JUST tests if the candidate is apt to

be a registrar and a future (potential) Consultant in UK.It is of two parts as we know, Theory & Oral assessment. The theory exam consists of

( i) MCQs- tests the basical theory knowledge

( ii) Essays- test the management of patient or scenario at registrar level (neither SHO level nor Consultant level)

( iii) EMQs - test your rationale for management

T he OSCE consists of 12 stations , testing your skills of managing a clinic in UK and communication skills as well. The exam is not a superspeciality exam. it is only a Postraduate exam (like our M.D) to assess the progress in a career to Consultancy in UK.(my opinion), allowing the Trainee to progress to ST5 (in a 7 year training).

The important websites, i would recommend, arehttp://www.rcog.org.uk/womens-health

 , http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1744-4667

, www.patient.co.uk

 , www.nhs.co.uk

 for UK type of patient oriented health information.

The must essential reading materials are: (a) Reviews from Online TOG (The Obstetrician & Gyanecologist -RCOG release) from 1999 till date.(The old TOG had PACE artilcles which were useful). l (b) RCOG Guidelines , NICE & SIGn guidelines related to ObsGyn (links are availble from Rcog site )

 ‎(c) BJOG EDITORIALS & Reviews (first few pages in ecah issue) for last three years. (d) Recent advances in OBs & Gyn - last four issues. (e) Progress in O&G ((studd) - last two issues.

MCQs:
It is not essential to read textbooks as in Indian postgraduate exams.
MCQs in MRCOG part 2 are based on only certain topics , not on all topics in Obs& Gyn Books.So, going through the MCQ books first will give an idea of which topics to read. For example, STI, contraception, obesity,HRT are regular questions in MRCOG.

 Reading selected books like (a) Obstetrics and Gynaecology: An evidence-based text for MRCOG by David M Luesley,Philip N Baker (b) Obstetric Medicine by Nelson Piercy will definitely help. But , the books need to be used while reading MCQs as reference.

Essays:
The essays for last few years covered in the websites likewww.busyspr.com

, http://www.tealefenning.org.uk/essaytech.php

 are sufficient to know how to handle essays. There are hundreds of essays in each topic in these sites. My advice would be to write as many essays as possible and get corrected by someone who has done the exam or throguh these sites, where they allow you to upload your essays. Prepare essays for yourself for most topics from guidelines (points) from RCOG & NICE & TOG.

The questions for Essays are usually from the previous few issues of TOG. So, TOG reviews are a must-read before exam.

EMQs: There are two books recommended in the RCOG website.
http://www.rcog.org.uk/catalog/book/emqs-mrcog-part-2

http://www.infibeam.com/Books/info/kalaivani-ramalingam/emqs-mrcog-part-2-self-assessment-guide/9780340941690.html

EMQs are new to MRCOG exam.The choices in EMQs are rather thought-provoking -(eg: requesting necessary investigations costeffectively).

There is StratOG tutorials in RCOG website , which will help with theory exam. However, . it is quite expensive. But, for those who can afford, it is very good and helpful for exam preapration. (I didnt spend too much for this during my preparation as I found it expensive). My advice on this is : Get the tutorials for those topics which you find difficult to prepare or are weak. (example -fetal medicine, urogynaecology are good topics in stratog.)

Regarding books ' MRCOG & beyond series' as well, they are condensed materiall of the same guidelines. If you buy stratOG in any topic, I would suggest you NOT to buy beyond series in the same topic.