medicine

• What is a biopsy?

  A small sample of body tissue safely removed for microscopic analysis.
• What is a bleep in a hospital setting?

  An electronic pager normally carried by hospital staff.
• What does capacity refer to in a healthcare context?

  The ability of a patient to make decisions about their healthcare.
• How is capacity assessed for patients in a hospital?

  Capacity is formally assessed on admission to hospital.
• What is a chronic disease?

  A disease that is not normally curable and is managed over a patient’s life.
• Can you name some common chronic diseases?

  Diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)?

  A chronic progressive lung disease, almost exclusively the result of a long-term history of smoking cigarettes.
• What is a closed question in a medical context?

  A question that normally has a very limited number of responses.
• Why are closed questions used in clinical settings?

  They are used when focusing on the details of a clinical problem.
• What are comorbidities?


  Diseases that are occurring simultaneously in a patient.
• Who is a consultant in a medical context?

  A senior doctor who has completed the training pathway for their chosen specialty.
• What does a Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation (DNAR) document signify?

  It states that no attempts at resuscitation are made in the event of a medical emergency.
• What is an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?


  A recorded pattern of the electrical activity of the heart.
• What is Foundation Training for newly qualified doctors?

  The first compulsory training pathway organized over two years with three 4-month rotations per year in different specialties.
• What is the role of the General Medical Council (GMC)?

  It is the UK regulatory body for doctors and publisher of guidelines outlining recommended medical practice.
• What is a General Practitioner (GP)?


  A community-based generalist doctor, normally the first point of call for diagnosis and treatment of mild to moderate illness.
• What does the History of Presenting Complaint refer to?

  The patient’s account of their presenting problem, guided by the clerking doctor.
• What does holistic care involve?

  Treating the ‘whole’ patient, considering their physical, mental, and social well-being.
• What is a hospice?

  A type of tertiary care specialist facility that focuses on caring for patients with chronic, often terminal, conditions.
• What is a mammogram?


  A radiographical image of the breast tissue.
• What is a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)?


  A team of healthcare professionals with a variety of different roles in the care of the same group of patients.
• What does the National Health Service (NHS) provide?

  The government-funded public health service in the UK.
• When was the NHS founded and by whom?

  Founded in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan.
• What is an open question in a medical context?

  A question that allows a patient to openly describe their presenting problem in their own words.
• What are outpatients?


  Patients who attend specialist-run clinics for management of needs that cannot be managed in primary care.
• What is the focus of palliative care?


  Providing end of life care.
• What does prevalence refer to in a medical context?

  The number of cases in the population, normally represented as a percentage or fraction.
• What is primary care?

  Community-based care for patients making their first approach to health services regarding a health problem.
• What is rapport in a medical consultation?

  The relationship a doctor develops with their patient during a consultation.
• What is reflection in a medical context?


  The process of analyzing a past experience to learn more about yourself.
• Who is a registrar in a medical context?

  A doctor that is training to become a consultant in their field.
• What is secondary care?

  The provision of higher-level care in a center with multiple specialist staff and resources.
• What is a sign in a clinical examination?

  A clinical abnormality that a doctor recognizes in the physical examination of a patient.
• What is a symptom in a medical context?

  An abnormality in a patient’s health that the patient describes.
• What is tertiary care?

  Very high-level care provided at a specialist center often focusing on only one discipline.
• What is a ward round?


  A review of each patient on a ward being cared for by a clinical team.
• What is the purpose of a ward round?

  To review aspects such as current and new diagnoses, investigations, treatments, and discharge planning.
• Who typically leads a ward round?


  A consultant.
• What is the benefit of a multidisciplinary approach in patient care?

  It allows specialist input on all aspects of patient care.