DOH Internal Medicine MCQ — High-Yield Topics for GP Doctors
Internal Medicine is the largest time sink for most GP doctors sitting Abu Dhabi DOH (ex-HAAD) Prometric papers. This page covers IM-only structure, commonly tested scenarios, and how to practise. For exam format, pass mark, full multi-subject syllabus, MCQ mechanics, and timetable prep, use the linked guides—those topics are not repeated here.
~25%
Medicine in typical 4-domain GP models
6+ systems
Core organ systems in most sittings
Next-step
Diagnosis, stabilise, escalate
The ~25% figure assumes a balanced four-clinical-domain GP split (Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, OBGYN) used in many Gulf summaries; an item-level DOH GP blueprint is not quoted here because a single public table with Internal Medicine % was not located. Confirm weighting on official DOH / Malafi materials for your title.
Where this fits (read this first)
Shared context lives on these pages—return here for Internal Medicine depth only:
- DOH exam overview— format, delivery, pass mark, registration context.
- DOH MCQ bank hub— all subjects, how practice is organised, what a DOH-style item looks like in general.
- Full syllabus (all subjects)— cross-domain blueprint; Medicine is one column there.
- 12-week study plan— scheduling and mixed-subject discipline.
Internal Medicine topic map (DOH GP)
Organise revision by system. Gulf GP Prometric practice—including DOH—and 2024–2025 SMLE GP recall threads (used here only as a cross-regional signal) repeatedly stress cardiology, endocrinology, and respiratory medicine, followed by renal/electrolytes, gastroenterology, infection, neurology, and haematology/rheumatology angles that are tested at generalist depth.
Cardiology
ACS and risk stratification, acute and chronic heart failure, atrial fibrillation (rate, rhythm, anticoagulation), hypertension emergencies, valvular red flags, stable angina vs ACS, dyslipidaemia.
Respiratory
COPD and asthma exacerbations, pneumonia severity and oxygenation, PE when the pre-test probability fits, TB risk in the right context, type 2 respiratory failure.
Endocrinology & metabolism
Type 2 diabetes and hypoglycaemia, DKA versus HHS, thyroid storm and myxoedema coma, adrenal insufficiency, electrolyte-driven presentations with glucose.
Nephrology & fluids
AKI triggers and staging, hyperkalaemia with ECG correlation, acid–base patterns, diuretic complications, when dialysis discussion belongs in the stem.
Gastroenterology & hepatology
Upper and lower GI bleeding risk stratification, acute pancreatitis, cirrhosis complications (ascites, encephalopathy, varices), drug-induced liver injury patterns.
Infectious disease
Sepsis recognition and initial bundles, source-control thinking, HIV-related primary care issues, fever in the returning traveller.
Neurology
TIA and acute stroke timing, seizure first management, meningitis suspicion, acute weakness differentials at GP depth.
Haematology & rheumatology (medicine angle)
Anaemia work-up, transfusion and anticoagulant bleeding, neutropenic fever basics, inflammatory arthritis and gout flares as medicine vignettes.
High-yield clinical scenarios (IM)
Rewarding answers usually follow resuscitation-first logic, then the most appropriate nextinvestigation or therapy. Patterns that appear often across Gulf GP Medicine banks include:
- Chest pain with ECG or troponin data steering toward ACS pathways.
- Dyspnoea with cardiac or COPD comorbidity testing overlap between decompensated HF and exacerbation.
- Hyperglycaemia with ketosis or high osmolar state discriminating DKA from HHS.
- Creatinine rise after contrast, sepsis, or nephrotoxic drugs for AKI causation.
- Fever with hypotension or rigors for early sepsis management priorities.
- Confusion in older adults with sodium, glucose, infection, or medication triggers.
Internal Medicine–specific study tips
Rotate by syndrome. Short scripts for ACS, decompensated HF, COPD exacerbation, CAP, DKA/HHS, AKI with hyperkalaemia, upper GI bleed, and sepsis hour-one actions beat passive chapter reading.
Train “most appropriate next step”. Wrong options are often partially true investigations or treatments that are not the immediate priority.
Integrate labs and ECG. Potassium, anion gap, troponin dynamics, and rhythm strips frequently decide the key discrimination.
Keep primary care in the loop. Screening, chronic disease targets, vaccination where relevant, and clear referral or admission thresholds appear beside acute medicine.
Sample Internal Medicine MCQs
Illustrative samples only — written for this page to show DOH-style reasoning. They are not taken from the GulfMedExams question bank.
Sample 1
A 64-year-old woman with hypertension presents with sudden onset dense right hemiparesis and aphasia. Symptom onset was 70 minutes ago. CT head shows no bleed. Blood glucose is 6.2 mmol/L, BP 178/96 mmHg.
What is the most appropriate next step?
- A — Immediate outpatient aspirin and arrange clinic follow-up
- B — Assess for reperfusion eligibility (thrombolysis/thrombectomy pathway) in an acute stroke protocol
- C — Start prophylactic antiepileptic drugs before imaging
- D — Lower BP aggressively to normal before any other action
- E — Lumbar puncture to rule out meningitis
Answer: B
Acute ischaemic stroke within the therapeutic window requires urgent stroke-team assessment for reperfusion. Aspirin alone without protocol assessment is unsafe; aggressive BP reduction before evaluation can be harmful; LP and routine AEDs are not indicated here.
Sample 2
A 45-year-old man with BMI 36 kg/m² presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss. Random glucose 32 mmol/L, pH 7.42, bicarbonate 22 mmol/L, effective serum osmolality markedly elevated, minimal ketonuria.
What is the most likely diagnosis and initial management priority?
- A — DKA — start fixed-dose subcutaneous insulin without fluids
- B — HHS — aggressive IV isotonic fluid resuscitation with frequent glucose and electrolyte monitoring; insulin after initial volume assessment
- C — Simple hyperglycaemia — discharge on metformin
- D — Thyrotoxicosis — propylthiouracil only
- E — SIADH — fluid restriction only
Answer: B
Marked hyperglycaemia with hyperosmolality and minimal ketosis fits hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state. Initial management prioritises IV fluids and careful electrolyte monitoring; insulin is introduced in a controlled manner after perfusion is addressed. DKA typically shows more ketosis and acidosis.
Sample 3
A 70-year-old man with CKD stage 4 is found unconscious. K+ 7.2 mmol/L. ECG shows sine-wave pattern. BP 88/52 mmHg.
What is the most urgent immediate treatment?
- A — Oral furosemide and discharge
- B — IV calcium for membrane stabilisation, with parallel therapies to lower potassium and treat hyperkalaemic emergency (e.g., insulin/glucose, salbutamol) and nephrology-led escalation
- C — Large-volume hypotonic dextrose infusion
- D — Immediate MRI brain
- E — Empirical phenytoin for seizures
Answer: B
Severe hyperkalaemia with ECG changes is life-threatening: stabilise the myocardium with calcium, shift potassium with insulin/glucose and beta-agonist where appropriate, and arrange removal (diuresis if effective, dialysis when indicated). Hypotonic dextrose without a plan worsens risk; imaging and antiepileptics do not treat the primary threat.
Frequently asked questions — Internal Medicine
How much Internal Medicine is on the DOH GP exam?
A single public DOH GP blueprint table that isolates “Internal Medicine %” was not identified in open sources. Many Gulf GP Prometric summaries use four balanced clinical domains (Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology); in that model the Medicine block is often budgeted at roughly one quarter of clinical items. Your official category, blueprint, and Professional Qualification Requirements on DOH / Malafi take precedence.
Which Internal Medicine systems should Abu Dhabi GP candidates prioritise?
Start with cardiology and respiratory (ACS, heart failure, AF and anticoagulation, COPD/asthma, pneumonia, PE in appropriate contexts), then endocrinology (DKA/HHS, hypoglycaemia, thyroid emergencies), renal and electrolytes (AKI, hyperkalaemia, acid–base), and gastroenterology (GI bleeding, acute pancreatitis, cirrhosis complications). Infectious disease and sepsis cut across many stems—keep them in weekly blocks, not as a one-off topic.
What do 2024–2025 SMLE GP sittings suggest for Medicine revision (relevant to DOH)?
Third-party SMLE GP recall for 2024–2025 frequently emphasises cardiology (ACS pathways, heart failure therapy, hypertension, AF and stroke prevention, lipids), endocrinology (type 2 diabetes, DKA/HHS, thyroid storms), and pulmonology (asthma/COPD, PE). Those themes align with how Medicine is usually tested on Gulf Prometric GP papers, including DOH-style practice—use them as a cross-check for breadth, not as a guarantee of your exact form.
How is DOH Internal Medicine testing different from MRCP Part 1 depth?
DOH GP items are single-best-answer vignettes aimed at safe generalist decisions: first-line investigation, stabilisation, contraindications, and guideline-consistent next steps. The goal is breadth across hospital and primary care medicine, not subspecialty rare-disease detail.
Is this page for the DOH Internal Medicine specialty exam?
No. It is for general practitioners preparing the broad Medicine component of a GP-style DOH MCQ paper. Internal Medicine specialist assessments differ in scope; confirm your pathway on official DOH documentation.
Related links
Practise DOH Internal Medicine MCQs
Open the exam hub, filter by Medicine, and run mixed blocks so Internal Medicine feels like it does on test day—alongside Surgery, Paediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
Go to ExamsPrometric® is a registered trademark of Prometric Inc. GulfMedExams is an independent platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Prometric or any licensing authority. Content on this page is for educational preparation only and does not replace official DOH guidance.