Guidelines for MRCP PACES
Candidates preparing for MRCP PACES would be well advised to refer to the
guidelines published by the RCP regarding what they expect from candidates
We have included a brief summary of the overall expectations
We have also included excerpts from a paper in the BMJ with advice from one
of the senior physicians in the RCP involved in conducting the exam .
We have added how ACES for PACES will help you achieve what is expected by
the college
MRCP (UK) Part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES) and
Clinical Guidelines 2001/2 Edition
This clearly states in page 1
Aims
The MRCP (UK) part 2 Clinical Examination (PACES) will
test the ability of a candidate to:
1)
Demonstrate the clinical skills of history taking
2)
Examine a patient appropriately to detect the presence or absence of
physical signs
3)
Interpret physical signs
4)
Make appropriate diagnosis
5)
Develop and discuss emergency, immediate and long term management plans
6)
Communicate clinical information to colleagues, patients or their
relatives
7)
Discuss ethical issues
ACES for PACES
is relevant to the above which is what the RCP require
1)
Demonstrate the clinical skills of history taking:
Chapter 4 is dedicated to an in
depth analysis and description of history taking
2) Examine
a patient appropriately to detect the presence or absence of physical signs:
Chapters 4 to 7
analyse and describe examination. Further at the beginning of each chapter on
the systems there is a detailed description of examination routines for each
system
3)
Interpret physical signs:
The
chapters on the systems have an extensive list of likely clinical features, a
description of the clinical features and an analysis of their causes
4)
Make appropriate diagnosis:
The preface and
chapter 3 have an in depth
analysis of diagnosis and the methods of reaching a diagnosis
5)
Develop and discuss emergency, immediate and long term
management plans:
Chapter 18 gives a pragmatic
approach to planning investigations and management
6)
Communicate clinical information to colleagues, patients or
their relatives:
Chapter 18 has an in depth analysis
of communication
7) Discuss ethical issues:
Chapter
18 discusses ethics and how to approach this issue
From the following paper in the BMJ
As part of our series to help
you succeed in the current postgraduate royal college exams, Sabina Dosani and
Peter Cross give the lowdown on the membership exam of the Royal College of
Physicians and interview examiners and candidates for their tips on passing
Professor Peter Kopelman is the
incoming chairman of the MRCP clinical examining board. His area of expertise
is PACES
“Candidates fail because they have
poor examination technique or poor history taking skills. Others are
unable to interpret findings to put together a differential
diagnosis.
Increasingly young doctors are
aware that revision courses only tell you about exam method, and that
application and interpretation of physical signs comes from experience.”
“My advice to candidates is to be as
experienced as you can. Go back to day one of medical training and read a
clinical methods book. Appreciate the applied physiology.
Understand what physical signs mean.
A lot of junior doctors are poor at analysing them. Be observed in your
clinical method by a senior doctor prepared to compliment or criticise.
Courses can’t provide that but the consultant on your post take ward round
can.”
ACES for PACES
fulfills the recommendations of Professor Kopelman
a)
It is a clinical methods book
b)
It gives description of history taking and physical examination skills
c)
It shows you how to analyse and interpret clinical signs and symptoms
ACES for PACES
does not provide information on topics that are likely to come in the exam
with details of pathogenesis, clinical features, investigations and
management. This was beyond the scope of a clinical methods book and would
have made the book too voluminous.
However, I am pleased to announce
that this information is provided in a structured form designed to facilitate
understanding and retention of knowledge in the companion book KEYS TO
SUCCESS IN MEDICINE
