Preparation of MFDS Part 2 (Con't)

Personal Experience (Part 2)

Previously I was considering whether to take MFD Part 2 online instead of  MFDS Part 2, because there was no new dates for physical examination in Malaysia yet. After some discussion and research being done, we decided to wait and stick to MFDS Part 2, mainly because it emphasized more on patient communication, which is what I've always wanted to improve myself in a private practice.

It requires us to take a proper history from patients, arrange our thoughts, explain the conditions to patient, plan a treatment plan systematically, etc. in a way that the patient can understand. To learn how to show empathy as well as a good body language.

Stations

These are the themes, it was stated at beginning of each question :

2 History taking
4 Explanation
1 Interpretation of investigations
3 Managing patient concerns

Why is it important to have a study group?

I would prefer at least a group of 3-4 people, because if 1 or 2 study mates got unavailable, the discussion can still be carried on.

We (4 of us) got some list of past year questions or topics from internet and our seniors, then decided to meet online every 1 or 2 weeks to cover all of them.

Each of us will prepare the question for a given topic, and we will answer each other's question like a mock exam. Hence, we could cover 3-4 topics in a discussion.

We timed all our practices, instead of 2 minutes we make it 1 minute and half, to train our speed of reading, as I said, you need to spare some time for yourselves to walk from one station to another. Moreover, we practiced to keep our talking within 8 minutes as well, so you will learn how to ask specific and relatable questions while taking history, and to avoid jargon!

We usually give feedback to each other, sometimes we even got feedback from our seniors who occasionally joined our session, so we learnt how to rephrase our sentences from time to time.

What are the recommended reference books / materials?

(I did not read back the pink book, some of the info was too theoretical to be put in use here)

• Compiled past year Q&A
• NHS leaflets (very helpful) - it explains most of the common conditions and treatments in layman terms, just that you need to search for them like one by one 😅
• Some MFDS Part 1 guidelines - the related one only

I did not go through the typical books as well because it is too lengthy for me the lazy bum (but you can) :

• Clinical Problems in Dentistry by John Laszlo
• PasTest OSCEs for Dentistry

Rule of Thumb

1. How to greet patient? (new or recurrent patient)
2. What history do I need to take some more?
- If medical, dental, social history given, reconfirm, ask for update
3. What should I explain to the patient?
4. What is the likely or differential diagnosis?
5. Anymore investigations needed to be done?
6. What are the treatment options or management?
- Advantages, disadvantages, risks
- Referral to GMP / specialist if required
7. Offer for further additional assistance
- alcohol counselling
- quite smoking service
8. Understand? Any more questions? Need to repeat? Anything add-on?
9. Reassurance and empathy
10. Offer to give leaflets

I will share some of my summarized notes as usual. You can always read more for facts that you can explain during the examination. But bear in mind this is not a VIVA session with your lecturers, they are just patients, just tell that what they need to know!