Explaining Atrial Fibrillation
A 65-year old lady presents to you after a new diagnosis of AF
Candidate Instructions 🧒
You are a Junior Doctor working in Cardiology.
Your next patient is 65-years-old Mrs Phoebe Buffay who has recently been referred to you from A&E with a new diagnosis of AF.
Mrs Buffay is anxious about what this means for her, you have 7 minutes to answer her questions and discuss this new diagnosis.
Station time: 7 minutes.
Station Material (ONLY OPEN WHEN PROMPTED)
There are no station materials for this station
Actor Instructions 🤒
Name: Mrs Phoebe Buffay
DOB: 19/02/YYYY
Age: 65
Agenda:
- You are mildly anxious about this new diagnosis as you have never heard of it before and have already had a heart problem.
ICE:
- Ideas: Have never heard of AF before
- Concerns: Afraid of having another heart attack
- Expectations: Would like to find out more about AF and how to make herself better
Brief history: run through this in <1min
PC
- "Funny heart beat" HPC
- Admitted with a heart attack 3 weeks ago, treated by "medicines" and "stent" in cardiology dept
- Discharged home, felt well
- For past 10 days feeling like heart is beating funny
- No triggers, comes and goes, no pattern
- Seen in A&E yesterday and told heart monitor showed AF
- Told to discuss with cardiology about what AF is and management PMH
- Heart attack 3 weeks ago DH
- Aspirin 75mg
- Clopidogrel 75mg
- Atorvastatin 80mg
- NKDA FH
- Adopted, don't know SH
- Non-drinker
- Stopped smoking after MI (30 pack year)
- Trying to improve diet (overweight)
Questions: (ask if not already addressed)
- What is AF? (physiology and path-physiology)
- Why did I get it? (risk factors)
- Aside from the funny heartbeat, I feel fine so why is this an issue? (symptoms and complications)
- How will I be treated? (management)
- What can I do to reduce risks to myself? (lifestyle modifications)
- Is there anything I should be worried about? (safety net for complications)
Mark Scheme ✍️
Introduction
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Ideas, concerns and expectations
ICE
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What
Explains physiology and pathophysiology
explanation-markscheme.what
Why
Explains risk factors and causes of AF
explanation-markscheme.why
What
Describes some symptoms of AF
explanation-markscheme.what
How
Explain management of AF (things WE can do)
explanation-markscheme.how
Explain management of AF (things YOU can do)
explanation-markscheme.how
After
Mention complications to be aware of and safety net as appropriate
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Conclusion
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