Questions for medics
Many thanks to Professor John Davey of Warwick University for providing this information. In addition there other questions below.
Below are excellent examples of questions that you may be asked at interview. Whilst you are unlikely to be asked all of them, it is advisable to research relevant information so you can to respond effectively to all.
Purpose of interview
The purpose of the interview is to develop investigation of the following main features:
Communication skills (verbal and on-verbal).
Motivation for medicine (why take this route).
General suitability for medicine (includes commitment, ability to handle stress).
The ability of the student to study medicine is determined from their previous exam performances.
The Supplementary Application Form may or may not be available (or used) in the interview. This information is assessed before the interview, and is part of the reason for being given the interview.
Choosing medicine
How old were you when you decided to become a doctor ?
Was there a particular event that made you come to this decision ?
What did you think a doctor did then ?
How has your view changed since then ?
Briefly summarise your exposure to the medical profession ?
What have you done to find out about medicine as a career ?
Who have you talked to about medicine, and what have you learned ?
What aspect of being a doctor is the most / least appealing ?
Personal development
What has been your most significant extra-curricular activities, and why ?
Which activity during school/college do you feel has had the greatest impact on others ?
What has been your most challenging experience ?
How have you overcome it ?
How will it prepare you for a career in medicine ?
What skills do you have that would make you a good doctor ?
Future in medicine
What frightens you about being a doctor ?
What do you think will be the most difficult part of being a doctor ?
What type of doctor do you want to be ?
How do you get there ?
How have you come to this decision ?
Future career goals in medicine.
Medical dilemmas
What advice would you give about the MMR vaccine ?
Should we treat fat people ?
East Sussex recently advised against hip replacements for obese people.
Liver transplants for alcoholics ?
Lung cancer treatment for people who smoke ?
Car crash victims who were drunk or driving too fast ?
Conjoined twins ?
What are your views on the public autopsy carried out by Professor Gunther von Hagens ?
Would your response be different if it had been Professor Robert Winston ?
An autopsy can be ordered by law – without the consent of the family.
Views on future treatments
Stem cell research.
Gene therapy.
What will be the benefit of the Human Genome Project ?
In conclusion
What are your 3 strongest / weakest characteristics ?
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself ?
Why should we take you ?
What are you going to do if you don’t get accepted ?
Medical governance
What do you understand about the term Medical Governance ?
What is the hypocratic oath ?
GMC General Medical Council
Doctors must be registered with the GMC to practise medicine in the UK.
MHRA Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work.
NICE National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
Independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on the promotion of good health and prevention and treatment of ill health.
D of H Department of Health
Government department to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England.
Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt
Minister of State for Health Services Rosie Winterton
Minister of State for NHS Delivery Lord Warner of Brockley
Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson (head of medical staff in England).
Royal Colleges ensure high quality care for patients by improving standards and influencing policy and practice in modern medicine.
Who is to blame for Harold Shipman ?
What would you do if you made a mistake ?
What action should be taken against you if you make a mistake ?
Inject KCl rather than NaCl – leading to death.
What about if you make a second mistake ?
What would you do if you thought someone else had made a mistake ?
Discuss the role of whistle blowing in the health service ?
What do you think of the people that do it ?
Would you do it ?
What should happen to the people that do it ?
Information about the course
What factors did you consider when making your choice of medical school ?
Why choose this medical school ?
Is it horizontally integrated or a spiral education ?
How much time is spent in lectures, small groups, with patients, in the community ?
What about self-directed learning ?
When do you expect to get your first experience of clinical work ?
What do you think about the aims in Tomorrow’s Doctors (from GMC) ?
Handling the course
How much time do you think you will spend each week ?
How do you handle stress ?
How do you relax ?
What interests do you have outside medicine ?
What suggestions would you have for improving group work ?
How do you intend funding your studies ?
What do you do when you have 3 or 4 things to do – that are all urgent ?
Evidence of working as a leader and team member
Have you dealt with a difficult situation ?
How do you feel about sharing work with others ?
Social considerations
What is the difference between “equality of health care” and “equity in healthcare” ?
Equality – everyone gets the same treatment.
Equity – people get what treatment they need.
Breaking bad news
Advance preparation – time, privacy, review information, mentally rehearse.
Build a therapeutic environment – support present, introduction, awareness of amount of information and shielding, cues, touch, follow-up.
Communicate – establish patient knowledge, be honest, compassion, avoid jargon, avoid euphemisms.
Deal with reactions – assess, respond, empathise, do not argue with or criticise colleagues.
Encourage and validate emotions – explore meanings, offer hope, use resources, take care of own needs, debrief staff.
Briefly:
Sit down.
Use a warning shot – “I do not have good news”.
Say it, stop, then listen.
Have tissues handy.
Avoid:
Delivering news in a public place.
Interruptions – turn off phones.
Communicating news over the telephone.
Talking too much.
When language is a barrier verify that translators will be comfortable and sufficiently skilled in translating the information. Avoid using family members as primary translators – it confuses their role, frequently compromises the therapeutic quality of the interview, and may compromise some patients’ desires for confidentiality.
Describe how a drug works
Amyl nitrite spray (generates nitric oxide, leading to vasodilation).
Anti-histamines block the action of histamine - reducing inflammation.
Aspirin inhibits cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the enzyme responsible for producing prostaglandins (which increase the level of pain, and trigger inflammation). It also lowers fever, possibly through an effect on the hypothalamus. Prostaglandins also cause platelets to clot, so aspirin reduces clotting.
Beta-blockers block the action of beta-adrenoreceptors (such as adrenaline) and reduce the rate and strength of heart contractions.