COT Performance Criteria

PC1: The doctor actively encouraged the patient's contribution by using open-ended questions and maintaining eye contact, allowing the patient to express their concerns without interruption. PC2: The doctor responded to the patient's non-verbal cues of anxiety by offering a tissue and verbally acknowledging the patient's worries, which led to a deeper understanding of the patient's stress-related headaches. PC3: The doctor considered the patient's stressful job as a construction worker and its impact on their chronic back pain, discussing how work-related stress might exacerbate the condition. PC4: The doctor explored the patient's understanding of their symptoms, asking what they believed was causing their headaches and addressing their fear of a serious condition. PC5: The doctor obtained sufficient information to exclude serious conditions like raised intracranial pressure by asking targeted questions about the nature and frequency of the headaches. PC6: A neurological examination was chosen to confirm or disprove the hypothesis of tension headaches, addressing the patient's concern about potential neurological issues. PC7: The doctor made a clinically appropriate working diagnosis of tension headaches based on the information gathered during the consultation. PC8: The doctor explained the diagnosis of tension headaches in simple terms, using a diagram to illustrate how stress can lead to muscle tension and headaches. PC9: The management plan included stress management techniques and a prescription for a mild analgesic, reflecting current medical practice for tension headaches. PC10: The patient was involved in the management decisions, discussing the options for stress management and choosing a preferred method. PC11: The doctor ensured a shared understanding by asking the patient to summarize the management plan and checking their understanding of when to take the medication. PC12: The doctor effectively used resources by completing the consultation within 10 minutes and providing a leaflet on stress management techniques. PC13: The doctor specified a follow-up appointment in two weeks to review the effectiveness of the management plan and adjust if necessary.