Medical Terminology Quiz

In a clinic letter, OD means:

• Twice daily

• Three times daily

• Once daily

• Four times daily

Answer explanation

In medical terminology, 'OD' stands for 'once daily.' This indicates that a medication should be taken one time each day, making 'once daily' the correct choice among the options provided.

BD indicates a medicine is taken:

• Four times daily

• Twice daily

• As required

• At night

Answer explanation

BD stands for 'bis in die' in Latin, which means 'twice a day'. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Twice daily', indicating the medicine should be taken two times throughout the day.

A discharge summary says paracetamol 1 g TDS. TDS means:

• Three times daily

• As required

• Once daily

• Every other day

Answer explanation

TDS stands for 'ter die sumendum' in Latin, which translates to 'three times a day'. Therefore, paracetamol 1 g TDS means the patient should take 1 gram of paracetamol three times daily.

QDS in a prescription instruction means:

• Once daily

• Twice daily

• Four times daily

• Every six hours only at night

Answer explanation

QDS stands for 'quater die sumendum', which translates to 'four times a day'. Therefore, in prescription instructions, QDS means to take the medication four times daily.

PRN most closely means:

• Immediately

• As required

• Before meals

• At bedtime

Answer explanation

PRN is a medical abbreviation derived from the Latin 'pro re nata', meaning 'as required' or 'as needed'. This indicates that a medication should be taken only when necessary, making 'As required' the correct choice.

A dictation states “antibiotics BD” but the letter reads “OD”. What is the main clinical risk?

• Over-dosing

• Under-dosing

• Route error

• Wrong patient

Answer explanation

The dictation "BD" (twice daily) was misread as "OD" (once daily), leading to under-dosing of antibiotics. This can result in inadequate treatment of the infection, making under-dosing the main clinical risk.

Which line should be queried before sending?

• Amoxicillin 500 mg TDS

• Metformin 500 mg BD

• Paracetamol 1000 g QDS

• Ibuprofen 400 mg TDS

Answer explanation

Paracetamol 1000 g QDS is the correct choice as it indicates a high dosage that requires careful consideration before sending, unlike the other options which are standard dosages.

Best action when an abbreviation is unfamiliar in a GP referral:

• Guess from context

• Replace it with a word you prefer

• Clarify using a trusted source or the author

• Delete the abbreviation

Answer explanation

When encountering an unfamiliar abbreviation in a GP referral, the best action is to clarify using a trusted source or the author. This ensures accurate understanding and avoids potential misinterpretations.

Why is consistent terminology important across NHS documents?

• It saves paper

• It avoids copyright issues

• It reduces miscommunication and supports patient safety

• It improves font appearance

Answer explanation

Consistent terminology is crucial in NHS documents as it reduces miscommunication and supports patient safety, ensuring that all healthcare professionals and patients understand the information clearly.

Which pair shows inconsistent terminology for the same concept within one patient record and should be standardised?

• MI / myocardial infarction

• Renal / kidney

• Cardiac / heart

• Hypertension / high blood pressure

Answer explanation

The terms 'MI' and 'myocardial infarction' refer to the same condition but use different terminology. Standardizing to one term would improve clarity in patient records.