OET Rx (Student Pre-Class)

Lesson 3: Conducting Patient Consultations

Course Progress

Overall Progress Lesson 3 of 100

Part 1: Lesson Objectives

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

Understand the structure of a standard patient consultation.
Use different questioning techniques (open-ended and closed-ended) to gather information.
Build rapport and show empathy to make the patient feel comfortable.
Effectively document the initial history from a consultation.

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

attend /əˈtɛnd/:

حضور داشتن

It is crucial that you attend your follow-up appointment so we can monitor your progress.

attention /əˈtɛnʃn/:

توجه

Giving your full attention to the patient's story is essential, as small details can be clinically significant.

attitude /ˈætɪtuːd/:

نگرش

A positive attitude from the healthcare provider can greatly benefit a patient who is feeling anxious.

available /əˈveɪləbl/:

در دسترس

The doctor is not available right now, but I can schedule a consultation for you this afternoon.

avoid /əˈvɔɪd/:

اجتناب کردن

During the consultation, you should avoid using overly technical jargon, which might confuse the patient.

aware /əˈwɛər/:

آگاه

Are you aware of any family history of this particular condition?

background /ˈbækɡraʊnd/:

پیشینه

Understanding the patient's social background is important because it can affect their ability to follow a treatment plan.

balance /ˈbæləns/:

تعادل

We need to find the right balance between investigating the symptoms and avoiding unnecessary, invasive tests.

base /beɪs/ (v.):

مبنا قرار دادن

I will base my initial diagnosis on the information you provide today, although we may need tests to confirm it.

basic /ˈbeɪsɪk/:

اساسی

Let's start with some basic questions about your general health before we focus on the main problem.

basis /ˈbeɪsɪs/:

مبنا

The basis of a good consultation is open communication and mutual trust between the doctor and patient.

behavior /bɪˈheɪvjər/:

رفتار

Have you noticed any change in your child's behavior since the symptoms started?

belief /bɪˈliːf/:

باور

A patient's cultural belief system can influence their attitude towards certain treatments, which we must respect.

benefit /ˈbɛnɪfɪt/ (n.):

فایده

The primary benefit of asking open-ended questions is that it allows the patient to tell their story in their own words.

brief /briːf/:

مختصر

I will need to ask you a brief series of questions about your past medical history.

bring /brɪŋ/:

آوردن

Can you bring a list of your current medications to our next consultation?

build /bɪld/:

ساختن

It is important to build a good rapport with your patient from the very beginning of the consultation.

calm /kɑːm/:

آرام

Even if the patient is upset, it is vital that the clinician remains calm and professional.

care /kɛər/ (n.):

مراقبت

Our goal is to provide patient-centered care, which means you are at the heart of every decision we make.

careful /ˈkɛərfəl/:

دقیق

We need a careful and detailed description of the pain you are experiencing.

case /keɪs/:

مورد

This is a complex case that requires careful consideration of all the available information.

cause /kɔːz/ (n.):

علت

We need to identify the root cause of your symptoms, not just treat the symptoms themselves.

Medical Vocabulary

Chief Complaint /tʃiːf kəmˈpleɪnt/ (n.):

شکایت اصلی

The first step in any consultation is to document the patient's chief complaint before asking more detailed questions.

Closed-Ended Question /ˌkloʊzd ˈɛndɪd ˈkwɛstʃən/ (n.):

سوال بسته

After the patient described the headache, I asked a closed-ended question: "Does the light make it worse?" to narrow down the possibilities.

Follow-up /ˈfɒloʊˌʌp/ (n.):

پیگیری

I'd like to schedule a follow-up appointment in two weeks to see how you are responding to the new medication.

History of Presenting Illness (HPI) /ˈhɪstəri əv prɪˈzɛntɪŋ ˈɪlnɪs/ (n.):

سابقه بیماری کنونی

A good History of Presenting Illness should include details about the onset, duration, and character of the symptoms.

Open-Ended Question /ˌoʊpən ˈɛndɪd ˈkwɛstʃən/ (n.):

سوال باز

To begin the consultation, the doctor asked an open-ended question: "Can you tell me what's been troubling you?"

Past Medical History (PMH) /pæst ˈmɛdɪkl ˈhɪstəri/ (n.):

سابقه پزشکی

Reviewing the Past Medical History is crucial, as a previous condition might be related to the current problem.

Rapport /ræˈpɔːr/ (n.):

ارتباط

Building rapport by making eye contact and listening actively helps the patient to trust you and share information more openly.

Sign /saɪn/ (n.):

علامت

A fever is a common sign of infection, whereas fatigue is a symptom reported by the patient.

Social History /ˈsoʊʃl ˈhɪstəri/ (n.):

سابقه اجتماعی

Taking a thorough social history is important, as factors like stress at work can often be the root cause of physical symptoms.

Symptom /ˈsɪmptəm/ (n.):

علائم

My main symptom is a sharp pain in my chest, which gets worse when I lie down.

Part 3: Pre-Class Practice Tests

Reading Task:

Excerpt from a Medical Training Manual

The initial moments of a patient consultation are foundational. The basis of effective information gathering is the ability to build rapport quickly. A clinician's calm and attentive attitude makes the patient feel heard and valued. This is not just a matter of good bedside manner; it is a clinical tool. A patient who trusts their clinician is more likely to provide a full and accurate background of their symptoms and will be more receptive to the care plan. Therefore, clinicians should avoid jumping directly into closed-ended questions. Instead, begin with an open-ended question to allow the patient to frame their chief complaint in their own words. This approach provides a significant benefit: it is both diagnostic and therapeutic.

Question: According to the text, what is a key benefit of starting a consultation with an open-ended question?

Listening Task:

Scenario: You will hear the beginning of a consultation between a GP and a new patient, Mrs. Gable.

0:00

Task: What is Mrs. Gable's chief complaint?

Part 4: Answer Key for Pre-Class Work

Reading Answer: c) It allows the patient to describe their main problem and helps build rapport.

Listening Answer: c) A feeling of constant tiredness.

Part 5: In-Class Preparation

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

Speaking Task: OET Role-Play Card

Setting: General Practice Clinic
Patient: A 35-year-old patient attending the clinic for the first time. Their chief complaint is a persistent, dry cough that has lasted for three weeks.
Task: Greet the patient and build rapport. Use open-ended questions to elicit the History of Presenting Illness (HPI) for the cough (e.g., when it started, what makes it better/worse, associated symptoms). Use closed-ended questions to ask about specific signs (e.g., fever, weight loss). Briefly ask about their social history (smoking). Summarize your understanding to the patient.

Writing Task:

You are the GP from the speaking scenario. After the consultation, write the initial section of the case notes, specifically covering the "Chief Complaint" and "History of Presenting Illness".

Proceed to Lesson 4

OET Rx

In this lesson, you will be able to: