All terms
Ideas, Concerns and Expectations (ICE)
Also known as: ICE
A consultation habit of exploring what the patient thinks is going on (ideas), what they are worried about (concerns), and what they hope you will do (expectations). It is a high-yield source of interpersonal marks in PLAB 2.
Eliciting ICE often uncovers the real reason a patient came — the hidden worry behind the symptom. Addressing that concern directly is what makes a consultation feel human rather than mechanical, and examiners reward it consistently.
More glossary terms
- ABCDE approachA systematic method for assessing and treating an acutely unwell patient — Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure — dealing with each before moving on.
- AMPLE historyA focused emergency history — Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events — taken quickly in acute situations.
- ARCPThe annual assessment that decides whether a doctor in training has met the competencies to progress to the next stage.
- AVPU scaleA rapid way to grade consciousness — Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive — used in initial assessment.
Put it into practice
Rehearse PLAB 2 stations with AI simulated patients and get structured feedback after every consultation.
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