OET Rx (Student Pre-Class)

Lesson 11: Understanding Patient Questions

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Course Progress

Overall Progress Lesson 11 of 100

11%

Part 1: Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Actively listen to a patient's question to understand the underlying concern.
Use paraphrasing and clarifying questions to confirm your understanding.
Answer patient questions in simple, jargon-free language (layman's terms).
Structure your answers in a way that is both informative and reassuring.

Lesson Video

Coming Soon

This video will be available for the offline course version.

Part 2: Vocabulary & Examples

Study the words, their pronunciations, Persian translations, and example sentences to understand how they are used in context.

General Vocabulary

enter /ˈentər/:

وارد شدن

Before we enter into a discussion about treatment, it's essential that I understand your main concerns.

entire /ɪnˈtaɪər/:

کل

I will explain the entire process from beginning to end, so there are no surprises for you.

entirely /ɪnˈtaɪərli/:

کاملاً

I understand that you are not entirely convinced, so please ask any follow-up questions you may have.

entry /ˈentri/:

ورود

Each question a patient asks and the answer provided should have a corresponding entry in the medical notes.

environment /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/:

محیط

My aim is to create a safe and supportive environment where you feel comfortable asking any question at all.

episode /ˈepɪsoʊd/:

رویداد

Can you tell me more about this recent episode of dizziness? What exactly happened?

equal /ˈiːkwəl/:

مساوی

We are partners in your healthcare; your questions and my medical opinion have equal importance in our discussion.

equipment /ɪˈkwɪpmənt/:

تجهیزات

The patient asked several questions about the equipment we use during the procedure, as he was anxious about its safety.

error /ˈerər/:

خطا

To avoid any error in understanding, I'm going to summarize what we've just discussed.

essential /ɪˈsenʃl/:

ضروری

It is essential to give the patient enough time to ask questions and not rush the consultation.

establish /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/:

تأسیس کردن

The first step is to establish exactly what is worrying the patient before trying to provide reassurance.

estimate (v.) /ˈestɪmeɪt/:

تخمین زدن

I can estimate that the recovery will take about six weeks, although this can vary from person to person.

evaluate /ɪˈvæljueɪt/:

ارزیابی کردن

After answering your questions, we can evaluate the options together to decide on the best path forward.

evidence /ˈevɪdəns/:

شواهد

When a patient asks "why," you should provide the clinical evidence or rationale for your recommendation in simple terms.

exact /ɪɡˈzækt/:

دقیق

To give you a helpful answer, I need to understand the exact nature of your concern.

exactly /ɪɡˈzæktli/:

دقیقاً

Can you tell me exactly what you mean when you say you feel "unwell"?

examination /ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃn/:

معاینه

After the physical examination, I will be in a much better position to answer your questions about a diagnosis.

examine /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/:

معاینه کردن

I need to examine the area first, and then I can more accurately answer your questions about the cause of the swelling.

Medical Vocabulary

Clarification /ˌklærəfɪˈkeɪʃn/:

توضیح

"Thank you for asking that; I'm happy to provide clarification. What I meant was..."

Follow-up Question /ˈfɒloʊ ʌp ˈkwestʃən/:

سؤال پیگیری

The patient’s initial question was vague, so I asked a follow-up question to better understand their concern.

Implied Question /ɪmˈplaɪd ˈkwestʃən/:

سؤال ضمنی

The patient asked, "How successful is this surgery?" The implied question was, "What are my personal chances of survival?"

Layman's Terms /ˈleɪmənz tɜːrmz/:

زبان ساده

It's my duty to explain your diagnosis in layman's terms, so please stop me if I use any word you don't understand.

Medical Jargon /ˈmedɪkl ˈdʒɑːrɡən/:

اصطلاحات پزشکی

Using medical jargon like "idiopathic" without explaining it can confuse the patient.

Misunderstanding /ˌmɪsʌndərˈstændɪŋ/:

سوء تفاهم

There seems to be a misunderstanding; let me re-explain the treatment plan.

Paraphrasing /ˈpærəfreɪzɪŋ/:

بازگو کردن

Paraphrasing is a key skill: "So, if I'm hearing you correctly, you're asking if this medication will affect your ability to work?"

Probing Question /ˈproʊbɪŋ ˈkwestʃən/:

سؤال کاوشگر

When the patient said he was "worried", I asked a probing question: "What particular aspect of the surgery is worrying you the most?"

Take-home Message /teɪk hoʊm ˈmesɪdʒ/:

پیام کلیدی

The take-home message from our discussion today is that this condition is highly manageable.

Underlying Concern /ˌʌndərˈlaɪɪŋ kənˈsɜːrn/:

نگرانی اصلی

When a patient asks, "How many of these have you done before?", their underlying concern is usually about your competence and their safety.

Part 3: Pre-Class Practice Tests

Reading Task (Interdisciplinary Context: Occupational Therapy):

Article: Explaining Adaptive Equipment to Clients

A core function of an occupational therapist (OT) is to introduce adaptive equipment to facilitate a client's daily activities. However, a client's question, "Do I really need this wheelchair?" is often not about the equipment itself. It is essential to recognize the underlying concern, which is frequently linked to a fear of losing independence or an unwillingness to accept the progression of their condition. Answering by simply listing the wheelchair's features is an error. A more effective approach is to first establish the client's own perspective by asking a probing question, such as, "What are your main worries when you think about using this device?" This allows the OT to evaluate the client's emotional state and tailor the answer, framing the equipment not as a symbol of disability, but as a tool for regaining freedom and energy for other activities.

Question: What does the author suggest is a common error when answering a client's question about new equipment?

Listening Task (Part B Simulation):

Scenario: You will hear a junior dentist asking a senior colleague for advice on handling a specific patient question.

0:00

Task: What is the senior dentist's main piece of advice?

Part 4: Answer Key for Pre-Class Work

Reading Answer: b) To fail to address the emotional concern behind the question.

Listening Answer: c) To address the implied question about pain and control, not just the literal one.

Part 5: In-Class Preparation

Be prepared to discuss the vocabulary and practice the following tasks in class.

Speaking Task: OET Role-Play Card (Medicine)

Setting: A GP's office.
Patient: A 48-year-old patient you have just diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes based on recent blood tests. They look shocked. After a moment of silence, they ask, "Does this mean I'm going to have to inject myself for the rest of my life?"
Task: Acknowledge the patient's shock and the weight of their question. Recognize the underlying concern (fear of needles, perception of a severe, unmanageable illness). Answer the question directly but gently, clarifying the initial treatment plan. Use this as an opportunity to explain the first steps of the treatment plan in layman's terms. Check for understanding and provide reassurance.

Writing Task:

You are the GP from the speaking scenario. Write a concise entry in the patient's record. Document the diagnosis, the key question the patient asked, what you identified as their underlying concern, and a summary of the clarification you provided regarding the initial treatment plan.

Proceed to Lesson 12

OET Rx

In this lesson, you will be able to: