RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Writing clinical scenarios for clinical science questions
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 142
OP 145
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-142
VO 16
IS 2
A1 Phil EM Smith
A1 John C Mucklow
YR 2016
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/16/2/142.abstract
AB Written knowledge assessments for physicians in training typically involve multiple-choice questions that use a clinical scenario in a single-best-answer format. The Royal College of Physicians Part 1 MRCP(UK) examination includes basic sciences themes that are challenging to assess through a clinical scenario. A realistic clinical setting based on everyday clinical practice and integral to the question is the clearest demonstration that the knowledge being assessed is clinically relevant. However, without special attention to detail, the scenario in a clinical science question can appear redundant or artificial. Reading unnecessary material frustrates candidates and threatens the reputation of the assessment. In this paper we discuss why a clinical scenario is important for basic science questions and offer advice on setting realistic and plausible clinical scenarios for such questions.