Mastering the OSCE or CSA

by Jo-Ann Reteguiz and Beverly Cornel-Avendano

Book Overview

This text presents a study tool for those preparing for Step 2 of the USMLE, concentrating on the OSCE and CSA simulated patient examinations. Working with actors posing as standardized patients,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071350128
• ISBN13: 9780071350129
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 2.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 8.6" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

I passed just because of this book

I felt for an IMG this book is very useful and I am sure the success of this book will continue with introduction of CSE for US graduates. I would not have passed CSA without the help of this book

best buy for the money

CSA is very expensive and I didn't want to fail it. I prepared for a month with this book and felt I didn't need to read anything else. With this book and the video that ECFMG gives out, I passed without breaking a sweat. I felt comfortable during the exam, and knew what to do. The cases are very similar to what you really get on the exam, and they tell you in the book exactly what you need to do. VERY GOOD BOOK!

all you really need for CSA!!!

I prepared CSA in ten days. This book was AWESOME!!! I got four cases very similar to the ones in the book, and the others were close enough to know exactly how to approach them. The second edition as an appendix on the patient's note, which I found very useful. I honestly didn't consult any other source for the CSA and I'm happy to say this book was worth every penny.My only advice is that you WORK WITH A PARTNER. Have a friend play your standarized patient, ask questions according to the guidelines given, and do your physical exam. It is a lot more fun and you practice on time management. This book provides the answers to your standarized patient, so he/she doesn't have to know anything about medicine. It also discusses DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS and the basic labs that should be ordered (and why!). It also stresses the importance of good communication skills and empathetic approach. Different cases will measure different things (like one case is purely communication skills and others are mainly history taking, whereas there are a few that only focus on physical exam). The trick is that you never know what each case will measure, so if you want to "pass", you have to do everything well! In the real CSA, you don't get cards that tell you about findings on the physical exam, so whatever you don't see in a standarized patient, you have to assume as normal. This is the only inaccuracy of the book, but it's a minor detail if you are aware of it. Time management: start timing yourself the moment you begin reading the introduction to the patient. Knock on the door (I used a spare room in my house to practice), and come in. Introduce yourself and get to the history taking and physical exam. This you should do in 15 minutes (even if the book sometimes gives you 10 minutes for the easy cases). Have someone (or an alarm clock) tell you when 10 minutes have passed, so you will know it's time to wrap up. Walk out the door after 15 minutes. You will be given 10 minutes to write the patient's note. A template of the note is provided in the book, but it is better to use the one given by ECFMG once you apply to the CSA. Like I said, I think this book is more than enough for CSA. I also had the 40 cases that are out there on the web and they were not nearly as organized and clear. I ended up not even reading them.

must buy

I passed the csa and found this book very useful ,deals with the cases that actually appear on the exam and tells you all you need to know to be prepared for it.It is a must buy!