Table 1 Standardised patient (SP) case presentation and correct management
Case | Initial presentation | Further details given if probed | Required drugs and tests | Palliative drugs¹ | Appropriate tests² |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asthma | “I have had a problem with breathing, and last night it became terrible” | Shortness of breath when moving furniture/cleaning. Wheezing and non-productive cough throughout attack. Attacks at night for a year with increasing frequency and severity. Attacks brought on by cleaning or physical activity. Had coughing fits as a child, and a sibling with a similar problem. | Prescription of salbutamol or other beta-2 antagonist or steroid inhaler. | Other\({ \beta }_{2}\)antagonists and steroids, antihistamines, xanthines. | Allergy tests, ECG, HIV, X-ray. |
TB | “I have had a cough that is not getting better” | Productive cough for three weeks, one week course of amoxicillin without improvement. Low grade fevers, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, night sweats. | Order or refer for sputum TB testing (including referral to a higher-level public health facility which could test for TB, even if testing was not mentioned). | Cold and flu combinations, cough syrups, NSAIDs and paracetamol. | Complete blood count, HIV, malaria, X-ray, Widal. |