NZREX Clinical History-Taking & Examination

Question 1

When taking a history from a patient presenting with chest pain, which mnemonic is most useful for characterising the pain?

Accepted Answer

SOCRATES

Answer

ABCDE

Answer

SAMPLE

Answer

OLDCARTS

Question 2

Which finding on auscultation is most consistent with a pleural effusion?

Accepted Answer

Stony dull percussion with reduced breath sounds

Answer

Hyper-resonance with absent breath sounds

Answer

Bronchial breathing with coarse crackles

Answer

Wheeze with prolonged expiration

Question 3

A 45-year-old presents with gradual onset dyspnoea and bilateral pitting oedema to the knees. Which examination finding would most support a diagnosis of congestive heart failure?

Accepted Answer

Elevated JVP with S3 gallop

Answer

Tracheal deviation to the right

Answer

Barrel chest with pursed-lip breathing

Answer

Dullness at the right base only

Question 4

When examining the abdomen, what is the correct order of examination steps?

Accepted Answer

Inspection, auscultation, percussion, palpation

Answer

Inspection, percussion, palpation, auscultation

Answer

Palpation, percussion, auscultation, inspection

Answer

Auscultation, inspection, palpation, percussion

Question 5

Which of the following best describes the 'shifting dullness' sign in abdominal examination?

Accepted Answer

Dullness that moves to the dependent side when the patient is rolled

Answer

Fixed dullness in the flanks regardless of position

Answer

Dullness in the epigastrium that shifts to the left

Answer

Tympany that becomes dull after percussion of the right iliac fossa

Question 6

A patient describes waking at night with arm pain and paraesthesia that is relieved by shaking the hand. Which nerve is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Median nerve

Answer

Ulnar nerve

Answer

Radial nerve

Answer

Musculocutaneous nerve