Respond to the patient like a friend! Dr Saffina, our ST3 trainee, has top tips to help you PASS!

Dr. Safina, a GP ST3 who recently passed the SCA, shares her experience and tips for success. She joined towards the end of her preparation and found the continuity and personalised coaching helpful. She practised with different people to get a range of perspectives and practised in a realistic setting, using video consultations. Dr. Safina found Dr. Ali's consulting style more suited to her own and learned from her use of open-ended questions and allowing the patient to speak. She emphasises the importance of being comfortable with the bread and butter of medicine and dealing with uncertainty by vocalising thoughts and exploring possibilities with the patient.

Takeaways
- Joining a coaching service for SCA preparation can provide continuity and personalised coaching.
- Practising with different people and in a realistic setting, such as video consultations, helps prepare for the exam.
- Learning from different consulting styles, such as Dr. Ali's use of open-ended questions and allowing the patient to speak, can improve communication skills.
- Being comfortable with the bread and butter of medicine is important for success in the exam.
- Dealing with uncertainty by vocalising thoughts and exploring possibilities with the patient is a valuable approach.

00:00 Who is Dr Saffina?
03:02 Preparing for the SCA: Advice from a Successful GP ST3
07:58 Practicing with Different People
13:01 Making Exam Preparation Realistic
15:42 Being Comfortable with the Bread and Butter of Medicine
20:38 Treating the Consultation Like a Conversation with a Friend