Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA)
http://www.rcgp-curriculum.org.uk/nmrcgp/csa.aspx
The Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) is an essential component of the nMRCGP, and is ‘an assessment of a doctor’s ability to integrate and apply clinical, professional, communication and practical skills appropriate for general practice’. A PowerPoint presentation about the CSA is available for use in training sessions.
GPStRs will be eligible to take the CSA when they are within twelve months of the expected date of completing their training.
The CSA will be offered for the first time in October 2007 and then in February, May and October every year. The assessment centre is located at Number 1 Croydon and has been created by fitting out three floors of the building specifically for the purpose.
Format of the assessment
Each candidate is allocated a consulting room and has 13 consultations, each of 10 minutes. Twelve of these are assessed; the 13th is a pilot case. Patients are played by role-players who have been trained and calibrated to perform their role in a consistent manner. A description of the type of cases used in the CSA and sample cases can be seen here. Candidates’ performance on each consultation is graded Clear Pass, Marginal Pass, Marginal Fail or Clear Fail by assessors who observe the consultations. Assessors are also trained and calibrated.
The CSA will test mainly from the following areas of the curriculum:
Primary Care Management - recognition and management of common medical conditions in primary care.
Problem Solving Skills - gathering and using data for clinical judgment, choice of examination, investigations and their interpretation. Demonstration of a structured and flexible approach to decision making.
Comprehensive Approach - demonstration of proficiency in the management of co-morbidity and risk.
Person-centred Care - communication with patient and the use of recognised consultation techniques to promote a shared
approach to managing problems.
Attitudinal Aspects - practising ethically with respect for equality and diversity, with accepted professional codes of conduct.
The CSA will also test:
Clinical Practical Skills - demonstrating proficiency in performing physical examinations and using diagnostic/therapeutic instruments.
Applying to sit the CSA in 2009
GP trainees who have registered with the RCGP and are eligible to sit the CSA (i.e. they are within the last twelve months of training) can apply online for a morning or afternoon assessment on a particular date. Dates will be offered until fully booked, after which further dates will be made available. Fees must be paid at the time of applying.
The dates currently being planned for the CSA in 2009 are shown in the table opposite.
