OET Speaking: A Patient is Confused about Their New Prescription. How Would You Clarify It?

What is the main purpose of OET Speaking? All the sub-tests that surround speaking skills have only one aim in OET. That is mastering patient-centred conversation. In this, you have to handle it in such a way that it is more attentive to the patient’s needs. You have to focus on answering concerns, showing empathy and professionally providing guidance. For instance, a patient is confused about their new prescription. How would you clarify it? In this blog, we will discuss the topic ‘OET speaking patient confused about new prescription’ as an example to help you gain a deeper understanding of patient-centred conversations.

Join Entri OET coaching classes to get the best scores suitable for your dream country!

OET Speaking Patient Confused About New Prescription: Introduction

Communication skills are as important as clinical skills in the healthcare industry. Even a small miscommunication can lead to significant medical errors and hence dangers. A patient-centred conversation alleviates patients’ anxiety, puts them at ease and helps to create trust. As a healthcare worker, you need to have the ability to make a patient feel heard and understood. It’s a hallmark of a good healthcare professional.

Step-by-Step Guide to Explaining a Prescription

There are many steps that you need to follow when explaining a prescription to the patient. Some of them are listed below.

Explain the Medication Usage

You have to explain clearly the dosage, timing and the criteria to be careful about while taking the medicine; like if the medicine is supposed to be taken before or after food, should take an antacid before the said medicine etc. If the said medicine is an antibiotic, then elucidate the importance of completing a full course for preventing resistance.

Discuss Side Effects

Side effects are something that creates panic in the minds of the patients and make them reluctant to take the much-needed medication. Many patients show concern and will be confused when they find out that their prescribed medication comes with a set of side effects. To prevent this, explain the typical and rare side effects taking the said medication may cause during your interaction with the patient. Reassure them. Explain how to cope when minor side effects appear and explain when to seek medical support.

Error Correction

Sometimes there might be errors in a pharmacy. If a patient comes to report such an error, check if it is true, if true then sincerely apologise, correct the mistake and investigate the source of the error. Always ensure the patient that their safety is your number 1 priority.

Extra Advice

Besides explaining about the medication, give extra advice like encouraging good diet and hydration, avoiding alcohol, cessation of smoking etc.

Important Things to Know about OET Speaking Test Roleplay

Some of the important points one should know about before participating in an OET speaking subtest roleplay are discussed below.

Pre-talk-up Conversation and Reading Cards

There will be a pre-talk-up conversation. Then role play will be around 5 minutes. Read the card thoroughly and prepare notes quickly.

Displaying Empathy

It is essential to display empathy for your patient’s condition and concerns. Use the language positively and never be rude or impatient. Make the patient feel comfortable to talk to you and impart information. Positive language from the part of a medical professional will instil confidence in a patient. You have to understand their emotions and respond accordingly. You can do this using the phrases given below.

• ‘I can see why you are worried about this…’
• ‘I am here to help…’
• ‘I understand this must be difficult for you…’
• ‘It is normal to feel anxious in this condition…’
• ‘Let me reassure you…’
• ‘That’s a valid concern…’

Clarity

You have to explain the medical terms and conditions in simple easy to understand language. Avoid medical jargon or explain such words with clarity.

Example: ‘Let me explain how this medication works…’

Active Listening

Ask the patients to explain their concerns and doubts. Listen to them thoroughly before responding.

Example: ‘Can you tell me more about how this condition affects your daily life?’

Responding to Patient’s Concern and Reassuring Them

Reassure the patient that everything is going to be alright. Make them understand the situation better so that they will not fall into unwanted panic. Patients may often be afraid, reluctant and confused during some conversations. Use the phrases given below to do that.

• ‘I understand your hesitation. Let me explain…’
• ‘That is completely fine. But…’
• ‘I will explain possible side effects and how to manage them…’
• ‘You’re not alone in this…’

Elucidating Information

Explaining information with clarity is essential in a medical context. Take the initiative to speak and maintain the conversation. You can make use of the following phrases to ensure that the patient is following what you are talking about.

• ‘Let me explain this stepwise to make sure that it’s clear to you…’
• ‘Does that make sense so far…’
• ‘Should I repeat the medication times once more…’

Also, remember to make slight pauses in between giving information to a patient to ensure they are understanding things clearly. Also, remember to give them the option to report back to the doctor or nurse to ensure that they understood the information clearly without any miscommunications or errors. But make sure that you will not overload the patient with irrelevant information.

Encouraging Discussion

There should be a proactive discussion of the concerns of the patient during an interaction between a patient and a medical professional. It reflects professionalism as well as patient-centred care. Always remember to adjust your vocabulary and intonation according to the patient you are talking to. You cannot talk to an 8-year-old the same way you talk to an 80-year-old.

Asking the Right Questions

In OET speaking, you need to know what the right questions are to ask a patient. It is essential to get more information regarding their condition. It is also important to engage the patient in a discussion. Pay attention to asking open-ended questions instead of simple yes or no questions. This will encourage a patient to narrate more. Open-ended questions are essential for activating the patient during the consultation process. Some such questions are given below.

• ‘How long did you have these symptoms…’
• ‘When did these symptoms start…’
• ‘What are your concerns regarding this treatment…”

Asking the right question will create a friendly and professional atmosphere that will encourage a patient to talk more freely.

All the information listed above is usually taught in a standard OET coaching class. Are you thinking about joining one? Or are you looking for an online OET coaching class? Master OET speaking roleplay and patient-centred conversation by joining the OET course offered by the Entri Elevate platform. They offer:

• Personal mentors
• Doubt clearing sessions
• 100% syllabus coverage
• Mock exams
• Expert faculties
• Live classes
• Daily tasks
• Study plan

It is sure that you can ace the upcoming OET exam with the help of Entri Elevate OET coaching.

Click here to register for the Entri Elevate OET course! Ace the upcoming OET exam with Entri!

OET Speaking Test Roleplay Cards

At the beginning of the OET speaking subtest, a pair of role-play cards will be given, one will be for you, and one will be for your invigilator. In most cases, the invigilator takes the role of the patient, and the candidate takes the role of the medical professional, in most cases the nurse.  Here we are providing a sample of OET speaking test roleplay cards for topic ‘OET Speaking Patient Confused About New Prescription’. After that, we will try to write a conversation according to the directions given in the OET speaking test roleplay card.

Invigilator’s Card

Setting: Nurse station

Patient: You are a diabetic patient. You had been keeping it under control with the help of tablets and a proper diet. Recently, you had a sudden spike in blood sugar levels. It was dangerous enough that it led to a visit to the emergency and later to the GP. Initial treatment was given and then later the doctor prescribed daily insulin injections. A nurse has come to visit you in the ward to teach you how to administer insulin by yourself. You are concerned about the doctor’s sudden suggestion to switch to insulin injections. You are also anxious about administering the injection by yourself.

Tasks

Ask the head nurse why it was necessary to switch from tablets to insulin injections.

Inform her that previously you have been managing your diabetes using tablets and diet.

Express your anxiety when the nurse clears your doubts regarding insulin injection.

Candidates Card

Setting Nurses Station

Head Nurse: you are a head nurse in your hospital. The patient’s GP has instructed a nurse to visit the patient’s ward and teach them how to administer the injection themselves. The patient’s GP has also instructed you to explain to the patient any doubts they might have about administering the injection by themselves. The patient is very sure that their diabetes is manageable just by a good diet and tablets and the sudden switching in medication is making them confused.

Tasks

Explain to the patient why starting insulin was important.

Explain the process of administering insulin injection in detail.

Clear any confusion the patient might have about the process

Explain the importance of hygiene in the process like using clean needles, cleaning the site of injection, switching the site of injection and the significance of safe disposal of needles.

OET Speaking Patient Confused About New Prescription: Example

Let us see how an OET speaking roleplay is done.

Nurse: Good morning!

Patient:  Good morning!

Nurse: Please have a seat.

Patient: Thank you.

Nurse: I am the head nurse here. My name is Anne. It seems like we have met before in the war. Could you tell me the reason for your visit?

Patient: I am a patient of GP Ms Smith. I have been suffering from diabetes for a long time. But I was able to manage it well with tablets and a proper diet.  Recently I had to visit the ER due to a sudden spike in my blood sugar levels. After that, I had a consultation with Ms. Smith, where she prescribed daily insulin injections for me. I have been doing fine with just tablets. This switch is making me anxious. Many of my friends are telling me that this is a scam run by some institutions to take more money from patients. Some others are saying that my diabetes is starting to get more dangerous. I don’t know what to believe. Was the switch in medication necessary? Am I in any danger?

Nurse: I can see why you are worried about this. Let me reassure you. GP Ms Smith has been treating you for years. She would never suggest a change if that was not essential. Let me take your patient chart. Can you tell me your full name and Hospital Registration number, please?

Patient: Sure! I am Sara Isacc.

Nurse: How should I address you?

Patient: You can call me Sara.

Nurse: Alright Sara. I have found the file. It is shown in the test report that there is a significant drop in insulin production in your body to such levels that cannot be managed by just tablets or diet restrictions. But there is nothing to be anxious about it. It is quite a natural progression of the disease. I could even say that you have done so well for these many years with just medication. That is not a feat achieved by many patients. Your diabetes is still very manageable if you stick to your regular diet and insulin injection once per day.

Patient: Ok. I had a nurse come into the patient ward to teach me how to administer injections myself. However, I am afraid that I missed most of her instruction due to exhaustion and anxiety. Can you please teach me the process of administering insulin injections myself?

Nurse: Of course! No worries at all! You have to keep the site of the injection clean before administering the insulin shot. Keep the angle of the needle with the skin surface at 90 degrees. This will prevent pain or bruising. You also have to change the site of injection every day and keep at least one finger length distance from the site of injection of the previous day. You can administer the injection in the thighs or stomach. Does that make sense so far?

Patient: Yes! What can I do in case of pain or bruising?

Nurse: That is a valid question. In case you feel pain or experience bruising on administering insulin shots all you have to do is dab the area of inflammation with an icepack. You have been already tested for insulin allergies, so there is no need for concerns about medication causing an adverse reaction.

Patient: Is there anything else I should be careful about while administering the injection myself?

Nurse: Oh yes! We have already discussed cleaning the site of injection and changing the injection site regularly. Another important factor is keeping the needle uncontaminated. If you are using a reusable insulin syringe then cover the needle with the cap given with it and keep the equipment in a clean space in the refrigerator. If you are using a disposable syringe then remember to use a clean needle every day.  You also have to be careful about the process of disposing of needles safely. All the instruction for that is written in the medication info sheet provided to you.

Patient: Ok.

Nurse: Do you have any questions or doubts regarding anything we have discussed now?

Patient: No, I think I got it now.

Nurse: Very Good! I will come to the ward a few times and observe the way you are administering the injection yourself. I will correct your technique if necessary. Does that sound good?

Patient: Absolutely!

Nurse: There is no need to be anxious or be too harsh on yourself. We are here to help and guide you. I am sure that by the time you are discharged, you will be an expert in administering insulin injections.

Patient: Thank You.

Nurse: You are welcome. Have a pleasant day.

Get the best mentors to learn OET speaking role play! Join Entri OET coaching today!

OET Speaking Patient Confused About New Prescription: Conclusion

The language used by a medical professional is supposed to reflect their education, experience and training. The way a medical professional communicates should be intelligible to the patient. This is why practicing patient-centric conversations is essential to give a good performance in the OET speaking sub-test. You should address the patient’s concerns with empathy, listen actively, encourage discussion and communicate the instructions with clarity to get a good score in OET speaking subtest. Start practicing your OET speaking skills with OET speaking samples and OET speaking roleplay cards provided in the blog. Join Entri OET coaching if you need help from a mentor for practicing and clearing doubts. The sample ‘OET Speaking Patient Confused About New Prescription’ conversation will help you understand the basics.