Training activity information
Details
Attend consultant led EMG clinics and feedback to colleagues on how EMG can aid further diagnosis
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Consider your current understanding of EMG principles, common indications for EMG, and how EMG findings contribute to diagnosis in different neurological conditions.
- What specific diagnostic applications of EMG are you interested in learning more about? How do you expect a consultant to approach and interpret EMG findings? What is your current understanding of how EMG aids in diagnosing neurological conditions? What experience, if any, do you have in observing or learning about EMG?
- Ensure you understand the expectations for your attendance at the clinic and the format for your feedback to colleagues. What types of cases might be discussed that you have limited knowledge of? How will you ensure you understand the consultant’s reasoning and the key diagnostic information? How will you prepare to provide effective feedback to colleagues? Are you feeling confident, curious, or perhaps a little apprehensive? Acknowledging your feelings can help you focus your preparation.
In action
- How are you approaching observing the clinic? Are you actively listening to the discussions, noting down key points, and focusing on the consultant’s reasoning? Why are you choosing to focus on these particular aspects of the clinic? Are you deciding which cases to pay closer attention to based on their complexity or relevance to your learning needs? Are you making decisions about what questions (if any, and if appropriate) you might ask to clarify your understanding? Does understanding the indications for EMG feel intuitive, or do you need to consciously think about the clinical context? Is it easier to follow the technical aspects of the EMG procedure or the interpretation of the findings?
- Are you gaining a better understanding of how EMG aids further diagnosis by observing the clinic? Are you collecting enough information to provide meaningful feedback to your colleagues? Are you finding it difficult to follow the discussions due to unfamiliar terminology or complex cases? Are there any practical challenges in observing the clinic effectively? Are you noticing patterns in how the consultant approaches different clinical scenarios? Are you identifying specific ways in which EMG findings contribute to the diagnostic process that you weren’t fully aware of before? Are you able to relate the cases you are observing to your previous learning about neurophysiology and EMG? Does this experience highlight any gaps in your current understanding?
- Could you have prepared differently before the clinic to enhance your understanding during the session? Are there different note-taking strategies you could employ? Do you need to ask the consultant for clarification on a specific point? Would it be helpful to discuss a particular case with your training officer afterwards to consolidate your learning? Ensure you are observing and learning within your role as a trainee and not attempting to provide clinical advice or make independent interpretations.
On action
- Begin by summarising the key points of the experience of attending the consultant-led EMG clinic. What were the main types of cases you observed? What were the key discussions around how EMG contributed to the diagnosis? What were the different approaches taken by the consultant when dealing with various patient presentations? Did you notice any particular patterns in their questioning or the way they interpreted the EMG findings? What communication styles were used by the consultant with patients and other healthcare professionals? How did they explain the role of EMG in the diagnostic process? What types of equipment and techniques were used during the EMG procedures you observed? Were there any aspects of the practical application of EMG that stood out to you? What challenges or complexities did you observe in the cases presented, and how did the consultant address them?
- What specific ways in which EMG can aid further diagnosis did you learn about or gain a better understanding of through this experience? Can you provide examples from the cases you observed? What skills or knowledge related to EMG did you develop or improve through observing the clinic? Did you gain a better understanding of the indications for EMG, the interpretation of results, or the correlation with clinical findings? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes in your learning during this activity? For example, did you find certain aspects of EMG interpretation easier or more difficult to grasp than anticipated? In what ways did your reflection-in-action (during the clinic) influence your learning or understanding of the activity? Did asking specific questions or focusing on particular aspects enhance your insights? How does this experience relate to the requirements for post-programme practice? How will understanding the role of EMG in diagnosis contribute to your future professional practice? Did you gain a better appreciation for how EMG findings are integrated with the patient’s history and symptoms to reach a diagnosis?
- What areas for continued development have been identified as a result of this activity? For example, do you need to focus on specific EMG findings, particular clinical presentations, or the communication of EMG results? How can you apply the learning from this activity to your routine practice? How will you approach future opportunities to observe or participate in EMG-related activities? Identify the actions / ‘next steps’ you will now take to support the assimilation of what you have learned. This might include reviewing relevant literature, discussing specific cases with your training officer, or seeking out further observational opportunities. What support or resources might you need to further develop in the areas identified through this reflection?
Beyond action
- How do your initial reflections on this DTA (from your ‘reflect-on-action’) look now, considering your subsequent learning and experiences in the programme? What key learning points or actions did you identify at the time? Have you acted on these? What further learning or actions might you identify now with a broader perspective?
- How has observing the consultant-led EMG clinic supported you in developing skills relevant to other training activities, such as communication with patients or colleagues, interpreting clinical information, or understanding diagnostic pathways? How have you applied the knowledge gained from observing the EMG clinic since the original experience? Have you felt more confident in understanding discussions involving EMG, or in considering the role of EMG in different clinical scenarios? How have your skills developed since the original experience? Have you had further opportunities to learn about or observe EMG, and how does this build upon your initial experience? Consider how the learning from this DTA has enhanced your ability to discuss differential diagnoses based on neurophysiological findings?
- Identify the transferable skills you are developing through this training activity. For example, did observing the consultant enhance your history-taking skills, your ability to synthesise information, or your understanding of patient management? What specific aspects of EMG, its role in diagnosis, or the communication surrounding it will you continue to focus on developing in the future? How might the insights gained from this DTA inform your approach to future learning opportunities related to neurophysiology? Will you be more attuned to specific aspects of EMG during future observations or study?
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 7 |
Outcome
Apply legislation and guidelines and manage risk in the performance of upper limb nerve conduction studies and a multi-modality evoked potential studies. |
| # 10 |
Outcome
Discuss uses and typical EMG findings. |
| # 12 |
Outcome
Demonstrate effective and compassionate communication skills with all stakeholders, including patients and the multidisciplinary team. |