OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
History Taking Stations (Questions 1-10)
Station 1: Chest Pain History
Task: Take a focused history from a 55-year-old male presenting with chest pain.
Answer: Us
...
OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination)
History Taking Stations (Questions 1-10)
Station 1: Chest Pain History
Task: Take a focused history from a 55-year-old male presenting with chest pain.
Answer: Use the PQRST mnemonic for comprehensive assessment:
Provocation/Palliation: What makes it better or worse?
Quality: Describe the pain (crushing, sharp, burning)
Region/Radiation: Where is it? Does it go anywhere?
Severity: Rate on scale of 0-10
Timing: When did it start? Constant or intermittent?
Associated symptoms: Shortness of breath, nausea, diaphoresis
Risk factors: Smoking, hypertension, diabetes, family history
Medications and allergies
Rationale: The PQRST mnemonic ensures systematic assessment of chest pain, which is
essential for differentiating cardiac from non-cardiac causes. Gathering risk factor
information helps determine likelihood of acute coronary syndrome and guides urgency of
management .
Station 2: Headache History (Telephone Consultation)
Task: You are a Foundation Year 2 doctor in General Practice. Your patient James
Horton, aged 45, has called to complain of pain in his head. Assess and manage the
patient over the telephone. You have 8 minutes.
Answer: Key history elements to cover:
Onset: When did it start? Sudden or gradual?
Location: Where is the pain? Unilateral or bilateral?
Duration: How long does it last?
Triggers: What brings it on?
Associated symptoms: Visual changes, nausea, photophobia, aura
Medical history: Previous headaches, medication, trauma
Lifestyle: Alcohol, diet, sleep, stress
Patient concerns: What do they think is causing it?
Rationale: This telephone consultation requires systematic data gathering to differentiate
primary headaches (migraine, tension) from secondary headaches requiring urgent
referral. Identifying red flags (sudden onset, neurological symptoms) is critical for patient
safety .
Station 3: Abdominal Pain History
Task: Take a history from a 30-year-old female with lower abdominal pain for 2 days.
Answer: Essential history components:
Pain characteristics using SOCRATES: Site, Onset, Character, Radiation, Associated
symptoms, Timing, Exacerbating/Relieving factors, Severity
Gynaecological history: Last menstrual period, pregnancy possibility, vaginal
discharge, dyspareunia
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, appetite changes, bowel habits
Urinary: Dysuria, frequency, haematuria
Past medical and surgical history
Medications and allergies
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