Final Assessment OSCE Candidate Briefing 2018 Introduction

Objectives Fire & Emergency Evacuation Procedure Skills to be tested Structure of the OSCE examination Referrals Equipment Camera system After the examination

Fire & Emergency Evacuation Procedure Remain with the examiner during the evacuation, do not talk to other candidates Leave the building via the nearest available exit route closing all doors behind you: - Do not use lifts - Do not take risks - Do not stop to collect personal belongings - Do not re-enter the building for any reason unless authorised to do so The fire assembly point is situated at Euston Square Gardens which is opposite the main entrance of the building (Melton Street) and adjacent to Euston Station

Evacuation Procedure Continued Confirm your presence to the member of staff conducting a roll call. Re-enter the building only on the specific instructions of the Evacuation Co-ordinator or the Fire Brigade and at the direction of the venue staff.

Skills to be tested History Taking, including diagnosis Communication Skills Data Interpretation Clinical Examination and Practical Skills See the candidate guidance document for details about each station type.

Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) 17 five-minute stations including: 2 pilot stations 1 Indirect ophthalmoscopy station 1 rest station The OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) is an exam format that is widely used by medical professions. It is a way of testing the practical skills of trainees in an objective way. The OSCE consists of 17 short tasks, known as stations. Every station lasts for five minutes and you will do each one in turn. Two of the stations are ‘Pilot Stations’. This means that these tasks are being tested for use in future examinations and will not count towards your final mark. You will not be made aware of which two stations are the pilot stations. One of the stations will be dedicated to testing indirect ophthalmoscopy. There is also a five minute rest station in the exam so you have a chance to catch your breath. The rest station can take place at any time during the examination and could be at the very beginning or end of the circuit. You may go straight into the rest station on the circuit as there are no instructions to read. London – area not actual room. When you first enter the circuit you will be placed outside your starting station. Please face away from the instructions. When instructed, you will have one minute to read these instructions. You will be told when to enter the room . Inside the room will be an examiner. Please show the examiner your lanyard upon entering. There will also be another copy of the instructions, additional information if this is required and all the equipment needed to complete the task. If the station requires it, there may also be an actor. You will have a maximum of five minutes to complete the task and provide a diagnosis (if required). When you have thirty seconds remaining, you will be warned. You will also be notified when the time is up. At this point, please leave the station and move to the adjacent station. College staff will guide you to the next station if you are unsure. You may begin reading the next station’s instructions immediately. Outside each station is also a Hand Hygiene Gel dispenser which you may use before entering each station (either bottle or dispenser). The OSCE Circuit One minute to read the instructions Five minutes to perform the task Announcements will guide you throughout Hygiene Gel

The OSCE Circuit Sample Instructions Outside each of the 16 stations (but not the rest station) are instructions briefly explaining the scenario and background of the task to be performed. Here is a sample. Instructions are on a clipboard on the wall, feel free to pick up the clipboard in order to read comfortably. Just remember to put it back before entering the room. Another copy will be provided inside the room.

Candidate entrance/exit The OSCE Circuit Floor Plan 2 6 7 4 5 REST 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 16 3 College staff 8 9 RCGP, London circuit Station 1 is the rest station 1 Candidate entrance/exit

In the OSCE Station Be natural – treat the actor as your patient Explain what and why Notes Speak clearly Silence is golden Diagnosis Leave on time Although the clinical scenario is simulated, you should act as you would in the same situation in real life. The actors who portray the patients are highly trained and experienced at playing the patient in a standardised way while at the same time responding to the words and actions of the candidate. You should ensure that you watch and listen to the patient and respond appropriately. When explaining something, address the actor directly and make sure your explanation is comprehensive. The examiner will not ask for any clarification, the only instances in which they may interact would be to ask you to repeat something is if they didn’t hear you or to guide you or to guide you back to the instructions if necessary (e.g. examining wrong eye). You may make notes during the examination if you wish. These notes should be left in the stations. They will not be marked and will be destroyed immediately after the examination. Speak clearly and not too quickly; the tasks have been designed so that you should not have to rush. Please be aware that the maximum time for each station is 5 minutes. If you feel you have completed the station fully, just sit in silence until you hear the beep. Although this may seem strange and awkward, examiners and actors are used to it. You can begin talking again if you need to before you are asked to leave the room. If a diagnosis is required, read the candidate instructions carefully to see if you are to give your diagnosis to the simulated patient or the examiner. If you have not given your diagnosis by the 30 second remaining mark, you will be prompted to do so by the examiner. The examiner will not interact with you otherwise – but if you do start the task incorrectly (e.g. examine wrong eye) they will guide you back to the instructions. The OSCE relies on prompt timing so please leave on time. NOTE: In the unlikely event that something goes wrong with any equipment in a station, you will repeat the whole station at the end of the circuit.

Referral Criteria Emergency = Same or next day Urgent = Within one week Routine = In due course Because the criteria for referral are different in different parts of the country we will be using the following definitions for the purposes of the examination. These definitions will be placed on the wall in each station. You should use these terms during the exam as the examiner may not be familiar with referral criteria in your area. Emergency = Same or next day Urgent = Within one week Routine = In due course Final note re stations: If you think you have done badly in a station, pause and put it to the back of your mind. It is important that you move to the next station with confidence in your ability. Do not let a poor performance in one station affect you in the next station. Remember that you do not need to pass every station in order to pass the exam. (usually 10).

Equipment Required: Retinoscope Ophthalmoscope ID card Starting station number Personal belongings Stationery Candidates will be told if they need one or both retinoscope / ophthalmoscope. IF SO LEAVE OUTSIDE OF ROOM IF NOT NEEDED. Please do not bring any other equipment in with you as you will not be permitted to use it. We will provide any equipment necessary to complete the station. Please also ensure you are wearing your ID card at all times. As mentioned, the examiner will check this in every station. Please do not forget your starting station so that you can be guided to the correct station at the beginning of the examination. Please make sure that all other personal belongings, including mobile telephones/electronic devices/watches, are removed and placed in your allocated lockers before entering the circuit. We will provide pencils and paper in every station. You will not be permitted to use your own stationery. Can take bottle of water but again keep with you (note that water is provided in rest area).

Quality assurance of the OSCE Camera system Additional examiner A camera system will allow observers to watch the examination remotely. Please do not be put off by this. It will allow us to see how the examination is progressing without disrupting it, as it will reduce the need to sit in on stations. The camera does not record the examination so cannot be viewed retrospectively. There may also be an additional examiner present in any of the stations – they are looking at the examiner not you. The additional examiner may swap if there is any examiner on circuit who feels they should not examine you. It is the examiners decision as to whether they swap or not. This is all part of the quality assurance of the exam.

Results day: Thursday 1st February 2018 At the end of the OSCE Leave the centre quickly and quietly. Remember that there may be other candidates waiting to do their exam. Don’t be tempted to share any information about the stations with others via any means. Sharing content information via social media will be considered as gross misconduct. After today After the exam, please leave the centre quickly and quietly. Other candidates will be waiting to take the examination. We will collect your lanyards and you collect your personal belongings from the envelopes. You will then be led down to get your coats and leave the building. It is imperative that you do not share any details about the exam or the stations with other trainees. This includes, but is not limited to, posting details of the exam to social media sites like Facebook or Twitter, web forums or email lists. Trainees caught sharing exam information will be considered to have cheated and may face disciplinary action. Check your College login works and your postal address is up to date Read and follow the instructions of an email you will receive from the College ahead of results day Results day: Thursday 1st February 2018

Reminder: “fit to sit” When the OSCE begins, you are declaring that you are well enough to sit the assessment. If the assessment is only partially completed, you will not receive results or any feedback. Please refer to the Scheme for Registration regulations for further information. Please be aware that once the assessment begins, you are declaring that you are fit to fit the examination. If you feel unwell at any point you must inform a member of College staff as soon as possible. If you do not complete the full assessment, you will not receive any results or feedback. Unless medical evidence can be provided on the day, the attempt will count.

ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRISTS The College is the professional body for optometry. It qualifies the profession and delivers the guidance and training to ensure optometrists provide the best possible care. We promote excellence through the College’s affixes, by building the evidence base for optometry, and raising awareness of the profession with the public, commissioners, and health care professionals. Hopefully you are now aware of all these aspects of the day and you are clear of how the examination will run. Please remember that the exam is designed to help you demonstrate your skills. These are all skills you have practised many times. Any questions?