Can you walk us through how you would approach a patient with complex neurological symptoms where the diagnosis is not immediately clear?
Specialty-Specific
Purpose
This question checks your clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in neurology. Interviewers want to see if you can handle diagnostic uncertainty and communicate effectively with patients.
Tips
- Start with a thorough patient history to gather all relevant details about symptoms and background.
- Highlight the importance of a detailed neurological exam to localize potential issues.
- Discuss how you'd create a differential diagnosis and choose targeted tests based on your findings.
Common mistakes
- Don't jump straight to ordering tests without first emphasizing history and exam.
- Avoid vague answers; be specific about how you would approach the diagnosis.
- Don't neglect to mention how you'd communicate with the patient about uncertainties.