Have a look at this to get a quick summary of this post first:
First, you need to understand the structure of the interview. In this write-up, I will try to provide an overview. Additionally, you can use the following three resources:
- https://youtu.be/LwDr40nuiDU?si=ZiWpM4xZKEvuu5WU
- https://www.imtrecruitment.org.uk/recruitment-process/interview/interview-structure-and-content
- https://medcourse.co.uk/speciality-guide/imt-interview-guide/
The interview will consist of two stations:
Station 1: 11 Minutes
• Application and achievements
• Suitability for IMT
• Ethical, professionalism, and governance scenario
Station 2: 11 Minutes
• Clinical scenario – Investigations/Diagnosis/Management
• Clinical scenario – Communication mark
• Clinical scenario – Handover
Station 1
Duration: 11 minutes. This station is divided into two parts:
1. Part 1: Application and Suitability for IMT
2. Part 2: Ethical, Professionalism, and Governance Question
Part 1: Application and Suitability for IMT:
Duration: 6 minutes. This part is further divided into two sections.
A. 2-Minute Presentation:
In the first part, you will need to deliver a 2-minute oral presentation on the following topic:
“Give an overview of your achievements to date which are most relevant to your application to be a trainee in internal medicine.”
This will be the first question of your interview, and you will have exactly 2 minutes to answer. Once the 2 minutes are over, you won’t have any additional time to speak. You will not need to use any slides or PowerPoint, but you may use written notes if you wish.
B. Questions Related to Your Application/CV/Portfolio and Suitability to Be a Trainee in Internal Medicine:
In this section, you will be asked questions to assess your suitability for IMT. These questions may be based on your CV, portfolio, or other related topics, hence the name “Suitability for IMT.”
Commonly Asked Questions in This Part:
- Why do you want to get into IMT?
- What have you done so far to get into IMT or that shows your commitment to getting into IMT?
- How have you prepared yourself for IMT?
- What do you know about the IMT curriculum
- Tell us about your research experience.
- Tell us about your quality improvement project.
- Tell us about your publication.
- Tell us about your teaching experience.
- Why do you think teaching is important for IMT?
- Why do you think research is important for IMT?
- Why do you think quality improvement is important for IMT?
Suggested Preparatory Materials for Part 1:
- Medibuddy
- Optimize Interviews
- CT-ST Interviews Book
- IMT Curriculum
Prepare these commonly asked questions thoroughly. If you feel that writing out your answers will help you prepare better, do so and then practice them. If you find it more effective to think through your answers mentally, focus on that instead.
Part 2: Ethical, Professionalism, and Governance Questions
Time: 5 Minutes
In this section, you will be asked one or more questions related to ethical, professionalism, or governance topics. The total time for this part is 5 minutes. You will not be given any extra time to read the questions or organize your answers.
Types of Questions:
1. Purely Ethical Questions:
These may involve scenarios related to patients or colleagues. For example:
- Example 1: A patient in the hospital has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is refusing treatment. However, their family believes that the doctors have decided not to treat him. How would you manage this scenario?
- Example 2: You are on a morning shift, and one of your colleagues appears to be drunk. How would you handle this situation?
While answering these questions, it is helpful to incorporate the four principles of medical ethics (Autonomy, Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice) or Good Medical Practice guidelines, if applicable.
2. Clinical Governance-Related Questions:
These are knowledge-based questions, which are less common but may still be asked. Examples include:
- What is an audit? What are the steps of an audit?
- What is the difference between audit and research?
- What is QIP?
- What do you mean by clinical governance?
- What are the pillars of clinical governance?
- What is a portfolio?
- What is appraisal?
- What is revalidation?
- What do you mean by evidence-based medicine?
3. STAR Questions
These questions require you to provide examples from your clinical experience. For example:
- Tell us about a mistake you made.
- What are your strengths?
- What are your weaknesses?
- Describe a conflict you had with a colleague.
- Describe a difficult situation you faced.
- Provide an example of a situation where you demonstrated leadership.
- Describe a situation where your communication skills made a difference.
- Provide an example of teamwork.
- Describe a situation where you had difficulty communicating with a colleague.
- Provide an example where you demonstrated integrity.
- Example of your biggest achievement so far
Suggested Study Materials:
- Medibuddy
- CT-ST Interviews
- Optimize Interviews Course Material
- GMC Good Medical Practice
- Principles of Medical Ethics
Station 2: Clinical Scenario and Patient Handover
Total Time: 11 minutes
After the first part is finished, you will be given 3 minutes to read a clinical question and prepare an answer. After 3 minutes, you will be asked some questions from this clinical scenario, and you will need to answer them. Questions will be asked for a total of 10 minutes. Afterward, you will be given 1 minute to hand over to a colleague.
Bear in mind that in the clinical section, you may be given a patient in either a hospital or outpatient setup. You should be able to do the initial assessment, management, and produce a list of necessary investigations and differential diagnoses of a patient coming with the following presentations:
The questions can be as follows:
- How will you assess and manage this scenario?
- What next steps you would take, e.g., further investigations?
- What are your differential diagnoses?
- Any potential treatments possible?
- Any further information you would gather?
- How you would go about communicating with any people (e.g., patients, family members, colleagues) involved in the scenario?
After 10 minutes, you will be given 1 minute to hand over this patient:
“Can you hand this patient over to your colleague?”
Acute Setting:
- Patient presenting with shortness of breath
- Patient presenting with chest pain
- Patient presenting with hematemesis/melena
- Patient presenting with headache
- Patient presenting with seizures
- Patient presenting with confusion/altered mental status
- Patient presenting with palpitations
- Patient presenting with low GCS
- Patient presenting with fever
- Patient presenting with fever, night sweats, weight loss
- Patient presenting with low pain and/or swelling
- Patient presenting after a fall
- Patient presenting with diarrhea +/- vomiting
- Patient presenting with poisoning
- Patient presenting with palpitations
OP Settings
- Deranged LFTs
- Asthma patient presenting for annual review
- High blood pressure in clinic
- Stable COPD management
- Stable asthma management
Diseases:
- Pneumonia + CURB 65 Score
- Sepsis
- Acute severe asthma
- Acute exacerbation of COPD
- Tension pneumothorax
- Pulmonary embolism
- Acute coronary syndrome
- Paracetamol poisoning
- Hypoglycemia
- Diabetic ketoacidosis/HHS
- Acute upper GI bleeding
- Hyperkalemia
- Hyponatremia
- Anaphylaxis
- Cardiac arrest (ALS Protocol)
- Tachycardia
- Bradycardia
- ECG interpretation (ST elevation, TWI, hyperkalemia, SVT, atrial fibrillation, heart block)
- X-Ray interpretation (pneumonia, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, pleural effusion)
- ABG interpretation
- Stroke
- Addisonian crisis
- AF
- SVT
- Fall
- Respiratory failure
- Stroke
- Lymphoma
- TB
Suggested Preparatory Materials for Part 2:
- Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine
- Medibuddy
- Optimize Interviews
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