contents of MCQ in Step 3 exam

Step 3 is organized along two principal dimensions: clinical encounter frame and physician task.

I am writing here about its distribution of the content [ % ].

Scoring of the Step 2 CS Subcomponents

Examinees are scored in three separate subcomponents:

1. Integrated Clinical Encounter (ICE),
2. Communication and Interpersonal Skills (CIS), and
3. Spoken English Proficiency (SEP).

The ICE subcomponent includes assessment of:

1. Data gathering – patient information collected by history taking and physical examination
2. Documentation – completion of a patient note summarizing the findings of the patient encounter, diagnostic impression, and initial patient work-up

Data gathering is scored by checklists completed by the SP. The checklists are developed

by committees of clinicians and medical school clinical faculty and comprise the essential history and physical examination elements for specific clinical encounters. The patient note is scored by trained physician raters. .

The CIS subcomponent includes assessment of:

1. Questioning skills – examples include:

• use of

- open-ended questions, transitional statements, facilitating remarks

• avoidance of

- leading or multiple questions, repeat questions unless for clarification, medical terms/jargon unless immediately defined, interruptions when the patient is talking

• accurately summarizing information from the patient

2. Information-sharing skills – examples include:

• acknowledging patient issues/concerns and clearly responding with information

• avoidance of medical terms/jargon unless immediately defined

• clearly providing

- counseling when appropriate

- closure, including statements about what happens next

3. Professional manner and rapport –

examples include:

• asking about

- expectations, feelings, and concerns of the patient

- support systems and impact of illness, with attempts to explore these areas

• showing

- consideration for patient comfort during the physical examination

- attention to cleanliness through hand washing or use of gloves

• providing opportunity for the patient to express feelings/concerns

• encouraging additional questions or discussion

• making

- empathetic remarks concerning patient issues/concerns

- patient feel comfortable and respected during the encounter

The SEP subcomponent includes assessment of:

1.Clarity of spoken English communication within the context of the doctor-patient encounter (eg, pronunciation, word choice, and minimizing the need to repeat questions or statements)

SEP performance is assessed by the standardized patients using rating scales and is based upon the frequency of pronunciation or word choice errors that affect comprehension, and the amount of listener effort required to understand the examinee's questions and responses.

** both scoring card are of unfortunate students who failed in exam.

this post's information is taken from www.usmle.org 2010

Searching for date of your choice for step 2 CS??

I found many of my friends searching for some specific dates on many forum sites.and asking for exchange with other. but even if you dont ask for date to some one else, you can easily find dates in 2-3 days.
follow this steps.

First Option:
Refreshing the page

• go to the ECFMG home page
• 
• select step 2 CS calendar and scheduling.
• enter your ECFMG ID and password.. follow instruction.
• this will lead you to the page of calender where you can select dates. open the month of your choice in your selected testing center on the calender. now wait and keep refreshing that page every 10-15 minute. you will surely get some dates on your favorite center in month of your choice in a day or two, for sure.
  

Second Option:
Step 2 CS Scheduling Email Notification System

The Step 2 CS Scheduling Email Notification System allows registered applicants to indicate their preferences for test dates and centers. When a testing appointment is canceled, all applicants participating in the email notification system who have expressed a preference for this date/center are notified immediately by email. but you often get this email some what late by 2-3 minutes and when you open the page it may happen that you will not get date. Thats why refreshing of page is very good option.

[you can alway edit or add your preferences of notification by “Add/Edit Scheduling Email Notifications.”

Even if you chose this second option keep your calender page open always while you are doing practice. whenever you get email just refresh the page. By doing this you can have immediate access to the date.

Choose yahoo email id for your email notification and keep yahoo messenger ON everytime. yahoo msngr gives you alarm sound on receiving any email. so you can immediately refresh the page of calender/date on ecfmg.]

Njoy....

Do the Best Use of all space of rough/ scrap paper

Here I am providing you my method. I used to use my rough paper like this ,let me flash some more light on it.

1. always write name and age of person before entering room, many times it happens that in stress u forget name of the SP . so it will help you to remind.

2. Spare some time to write differential diagnosis by just guessing it from the chief complain. it will help you to remind and ask questions on the history of present illness.

3.Marking or canceling each letter of mnemonics help you to asure that you have asked about that part. it will help you to cover all points and also help to avoid asking repeatedly same question by mistake.

4. As I mentioned in picture, it will save time to write good points on Patient Note.

5. Counseling has a good effect on patient and it also covers good marks of overall exam marks.

You can use both sides of the rough/scrap paper.
They directly discard it after collecting it from you when you complete each encounter.

Schedule for Reporting Step 2 CS Results 2009 & 2010

"Starting with Step 2 CS results reported on August 19, 2009, both failing and passing examinees will receive this feedback. Consistent with current reporting policy, the Performance Profiles are intended only for examinees and will not be reported to or verified to any third party."- USMLE.ORG 2010

** this post's information is taken from www.usmle.org