Clinical prediction rules (CPRs) are research-based tools that assist clinicians in making classification decisions, prognosis determinations, and diagnosis predictions. While these are very popular study materials for OCS candidates, it is important to understand how CPRs could appropriately be tested on the Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) exam.
CPRs are derived to help clinicians make timely probability assertions. This is a highly valuable additive to our overall clinical decision-making process, but the majority of CPRs are supported by weak evidence, thus shouldn’t be used as stand-alone decision-making tools.
The OCS exam is designed to help distinguish clinicians with exceptional orthopedic knowledge through testing candidates on their grasp of current, widely accepted evidence-based orthopedic literature. We can’t lose sight of the fact that you’re not being tested on how broad your familiarity with orthopedic literature is.
Most CPRs are NOT validated and are derived from low-level evidence. Therefore, OCS candidates should NOT devote significant study time to trying to memorize every single obscure clinical prediction rule that is present in the literature. In the OCS Advantage, we have included overviews of the relevant CPRs in our study guides. To help you optimize your study efforts, we included a list of some CPRs that are most likely to be tested on the OCS exam.
- Canadian C-Spine Rules
- Cervical Radiculopathy
- Cervical Myelopathy
- Well’s Criteria (DVT)
- Ottawa Ankle Rule
- Ottawa Knee Rule
- Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
- Manipulation for LBP
- Mechanical Traction for LBP
Don’t waste time studying things that don’t matter. We’ve taken a lot of time to created curated study guides that highlight the essentials. We want to see you be successful in passing the OCS exam. We can honestly say that’s our number one priority. Our entire business is to ensure you pass the OCS exam. Study smarter – not harder. If you discipline yourself to prepare like a test-taker, then we’re very confident you’ll be able to maximize your studying efforts, most efficiently use your time, and – most importantly – pass the OCS exam.
