glossary of terms

Question 1

what is meant by a biopsy

Answer 1

a small sample of body tissue safely removed for microscopic analysis

Question 2

what is a bleep

Answer 2

it is an electronic pager normally carried by hospital staff. This allows anyone in the hospital to be contacted quickly by any member of staff

Question 3

what is meant by capacity

Answer 3

the ability of a patient to make decisions about their healthcare. A patient may have the capacity to make one decision but not have the capacity to make another. Capacity is formally assessed on admission to hospital

Question 4

what is a chronic disease

Answer 4

a disease that is not normally curable and so is instead managed over a patients life. Common chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis.

Question 5

what is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ?

Answer 5

A chronic progressive lung disease, almost exclusively the result of a long-term history of smoking cigarettes (with exceptions)

Question 6

what is a closed question?

Answer 6

A question asked by a doctor that normally has a very limited number of responses. An example would be ‘is the pain worse on movement?’. Closed questions are normally used when focusing on the details of a clinical problem.

Question 7

what are Cormorbidities?

Answer 7

Diseases that are occurring simultaneously in a patient, that are often chronic but not necessarily related. Elderly patients are more likely to have multiple comorbidities.

Question 8

What is a consultant?

Answer 8

A senior doctor whom has completed the training pathway for their chosen specialty.

Question 9

What is a Do-Not_Attempt_Resuscitation (DNAR)

Answer 9

A legal document signed by both doctor and patient stating that in the event of a medical emergency (namingly a cardiac arrest) no attempts at resuscitation are made, with the aim to prevent further suffering to the patient.

Question 10

What is an Electrocardiogram (ECG)?

Answer 10

A recorded pattern of the electrical activity of the heart, which can be used to identify problems with it, such as heart attacks or arrhythmias

Question 11

What is foundation training?

Answer 11

The first compulsory training pathway for all newly qualified doctors. It is organised over two years and comprising of three 4-month rotations per year in different specialties. An optional third foundation year is also now available to trainees

Question 12

what is the general medical school council (GMC)?

Answer 12

The UK regulatory body for doctors and publisher of guidelines outlining recommended medical practice with the aim to protect patients and optimise patient care. All doctors must have GMC registration to lawfully practice medicine in the UK

Question 13

What is a general practitioner?

Answer 13

A community-based generalist doctor, normally the first point of call for diagnosis and treatment of mild to moderate illness. GPs have historically been called ‘family doctors’.

Question 14

What is a History (of presenting complaint)?

Answer 14

The patients account of their presenting problem. The history is normally the patients own description of their problem but is guided by the clerking doctor with a mixture of open and closed questions.

Question 15

What is Holistic care?

Answer 15

The concept of treating the ‘whole’ patient. It describes not just managing and treating in terms of their disease, but also the wider impact of the disease of their physical, mental and social well-being, and recognising the patient’s own expectations and priorities for healthcare.

Question 16

What is a Hospice?

Answer 16

A type of tertiary care specialist that focuses on caring for patients with chronic, often terminal, conditions where the focus is on managing symptoms rather than cure. Some patients based on a hospice ward, while others only visit during the day for specialist treatments that cannot be carried out by primary care services.

Question 17

What is a Mammogram?

Answer 17

A radiographical image of the breast tissue.

Question 18

What is a Multidisciplinary team (MDT)?

Answer 18

A team of healthcare professionals with a variety of different roles and inputs in the care of the same group of patients. Multidisciplinary management of patients allows specialists to input on all aspects of patient care

Question 19

What is the National Health Service (NHS)?

Answer 19

The government-funded public health service in the UK. Founded in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, the NHS was formed on the premise that it would meet the health needs of anyone, would be free at the point of entry, and based on clinical needs rather than the needs to pay.

Question 20

What is an open question?

Answer 20

A question asked by a doctor that allows patients to openly describe theri presenting problem in their own words, with a near-infinite number of possible responses. An example could be ‘can you tell me what brought you in today?’ Open questions are normally used at the start of a consultation to get the nature of a clinical problem.

Question 21

What are Outpatients?

Answer 21

Specialist-run clinics for the management of patients with needs that cannot be managed in primary care. These patients normally require more specialist assessments, investigations, and treatments. These clinics are run by doctors, specialist nurses, and other HCPs. Patients must be referred by another doctor (e.g. GP or hospital doctor) to access outpatient services.

Question 22

What is Palliative Care?

Answer 22

a specialty dedicated to providing end of life care.

Question 23

What is prevalence?

Answer 23

The number of cases in the population (normally represented as a percentage or fraction).

Question 24

What is primary care?

Answer 24

Community-based care for patients making their first approach to health services regarding a health problem. Example of primary care services include GP surgeries and drop-in clinics (e.g. sexual health).

Question 25

What is a Rapport?

Answer 25

The relationship a doctor develops with their patient during a consultation. A good rapport is a doctor developing an understanding an appreciation of a patient’s health concerns and priorities and in response the patient putting their trust in the doctor. This has many positive sequelae, such as increased adherence to treatment.

Question 26

What is reflection?

Answer 26

The process of analysing a past experience to learn more about yourself, and to apply this knowledge to your future behaviours .

Question 27

What is a registrar?

Answer 27

A doctor that is training to become a consultant in their field.

Question 28

What is secondary care?

Answer 28

The provision of high-level care in a centre with multiple specialist staff and resources, such as a hospital. Secondary care services cannot normally by accessed without a referral from primary care or via emergency admission.

Question 29

What is a sign?

Answer 29

A clinical abnormality that a doctor recognises in the physical examination of a patient (but the patient may not notice)

Question 30

What is a symptom?

Answer 30

An abnormality in a patient’s health that the patient describes (e.g. pain).

Question 31

What is tertiary care?

Answer 31

Very high-level care provided at a specialist centre often focusing on only one discipline, such as hospice or a neurorehabilitation centre.

Question 32

What is a ward round?

Answer 32

It is a review of each patient on a ward being cared for by a clinical team in a specialist care setting. Each patient is seen and reviewed for aspects such as current and new diagnoses, investigations, treatments, and discharge planning. This sets the ‘jobs’ to be done for the rest of the day. The round is normally led by a consultant and is multidisciplinary.