Saturday’s Big Game

So on Saturday there is a big game – yes finally the Rugby League year is commencing with the Auckland 9’s – and then there is the other game of strategy to exhibit knowledge (aka the AKT and KFP), and with a pretty good winning incentive at the end.

Over Christmas I had the honor (and fleeting humiliation) of playing a similar game called Family Feud.  The game consists of a series of questions, where points are awarded for the best answers.   

For those of you unfamiliar with this game it is bounded by the following rules:

• the most specific and ‘best’ answers are awarded the most points
• some parts are played as individuals and some in teams
• if you chose an answer that is not appropriate, the other team gets all the points.
• the questions are in categories, e.g. 80’s Pop Stars.

It struck me as I was playing this game, the similarities to the said exams.

1. We play as individuals but when we need help, as teams.
2. We should always consult the team when we can, but defer to specific talents.
3. We need to think about the most likely and specific answer to attain the most points.
4. We need to consider what the most appropriate answer is before we shout it out (or the opposition will use it against us).
5. If we jump to an immediate conclusion or answer and it is said, and wrong, we will lose points.
6. There is much value in evaluating all the options and choosing the best answer.
7. If we are not on the winning team, we must learn from their thinking and strategies so as to do better the next time.
8. It is OK to lose, as long as we learn, and we do not propose really silly answers that even our family think are implausible.
9. If no one can understand our answers or explanations we will not win points.
10. IF WE DON’T EVEN KNOW THE INFORMATION TO ANSWER THE CATEGORIES, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHAT THE BEST ANSWER IS!

So my teenage nephews won, even though I had the most comprehensive knowledge of 80’s pop songs – but I blurted out an answer prematurely that was used against me.

The moral of the story is:

• Take your time to think – read the stem – consider the diagnosis most likely, an alternative, and the one not to be missed.
• Imagine this patient is sitting in front of you – how do you make sure you have not missed anything and they are safe to come back for follow-up?
• If the patient was you, or your relative – what would you be considering?
• If you don’t have the ‘best answer’ first up, it will take longer and longer to get the points – cf.   TAKE THE TIME TO CONSIDER ALL THE INFORMATION AND MAKE THE BEST DIAGNOSIS FIRST – much better for the patient and for safety.
• Only do examinations and investigations that will help you to differentiate between your differential diagnoses.
• Watch the time – 7.5 mins per question.  It will be difficult to pass if you don’t finish.
• Prepare for the game:  It’s too late for study now – sleep, good brekkie, nice walk, bit of meditation – remember HALT (hungry, angry, late, tired/toilet – don’t do these before exam).
• If the game doesn’t go your way, you don’t know until the final result, independent of how you feel.  Reassess the situation, think about what went right and what can be improved – and get stuck into to the improving bit for next time!

Best wishes to all the Feuders on Saturday!  (and go the NQ Cowboys in the 9’s)