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Friday, April 19, 2019

Basic 7 Steps of Short Case

Basic 7 Steps of Short Case



1. Approach “Approach”
2. Hand off Exam
3. Hand on Exam
4. Finalization “Structure”
5. Interpretation
6. Presentation
7. Discussion “Formulation”

Remember it is only 9 minutes to show yourself in competition.
Time management is of extreme importance.

Basic 7 Steps of Short Case

1. Approach: Few seconds

§  Greeting, warm smile
§  Introduce yourself
§  Permission
§  Put child at ease
§  Explain what you are going to do
§  Positioning
§  Undress
§  Play and chat with the child.

2. Hand off Exam: 30-60 seconds

§  Observe from end of the bed
§  Show observing skills
§  Count respiratory rate if appropriate
§  Compare both sides.
§  Observe closely; face & head or skin stigma.
§  Don’t miss the mouth, all backs & nappy area.

3. Hand on Exam: Maximum 5 minutes

§  Do all or some of Anthropometric measures in growth & nutrition stations “or offer to measure in other cases”
§  Prepare to touch; ask if anything hearting, warm your hands, go to child level, chat with the child, look to the child’s face.
§  Start away from target area and close gradually
§  Use your hands first, then any tool “Stethoscope, Otoscope, “Warm it”
§  Distract the child or simulate on toy, caregiver or yourself before touch. Mother may help you.

4. Finalization: Few seconds

Say; to complete my examination, I would like to do ….. (Package of offers). This makes your image more colorful during very limited time of examination.


 5. Interpretation: Few seconds

Before you turn to the Examiner, you should reconstruct “in your mind” your findings; positive and negative and formulate a complete bright picture by joining and connecting the important pieces of information together.

6. Presentation: 30-60 seconds

The best way is to divide your presentation in to THREE phases:
A.      Start talking after the first circuit by the child’s name and basic 4 Ds.
B.      Talk through the second circuits “Findings of general examination”. This is best done by running commentary. Mention the positive and important negative findings. “Commonly you may miss important signs you already observed, if you left it to the end”. The Examiner considers that you didn’t notice it even if it was so clear. 
C.      Mention your findings of the third circuit after you complete it. Turn to the Examiner and talk confidently.
D.     Summarize the overall examination and raise your conclusion. “You may say: "all of these finding are consistent with...and I would like to..."

The only exceptions are general and developmental stations. Use running commentary all through stations and use statement of “child demonstrates” rather than “child can do” in developmental stations.


7. Discussion: 1-2 minutes
§  Listen carefully to the examiner’s question and statement.
§  Respond appropriately to the question.
§  Show confident look and clear voice with appropriate body language
§  Don’t dig a black hole to express your extended knowledge
§  Don’t go very deeply in details but, hit an important points as list of headlines.
§  Give a clear diagnosis if you are confident about it.
§  Alternatively, stick to findings and appropriate top priority 2-3 differential diagnosis only related to the patient.
§  Start broadly and focus gradually to specific investigations or treatment



4-D: Disease (Well /unwell), Distress (Count RR), Dimensions (fatness, stature), Dysmorphism (Syndromic..) 

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