Speaking introduction

1. Why are you taking the OET exam?

Actually, I am taking the OET exam to complete the Australian Medical Council registration process.

2. How long have you been working as a physician?

I am working as a physician for 12 years now. 6 years in Egypt and the other 6 years in Saudi Arabia.

3. What about your working hours?

Well, I am working for 8 hours every day from Sunday to Thursday every week.

4. Why did you choose medicine as a career?

A lot of reasons really. Medicine is a very respectful job and it gives you the chance to help
people. From the economic view, it earns good money.

5. What about your specialty? And why?

Well, it was a big conflict for me. I like all parts of medicine. I was hesitated to choose one
specialty and leave the others. At last, I found my target on family medicine as on family
medicine you practice all.

6. What is your advice for fresh graduates?

Oooh, the most important advice is to choose their specialty carefully and to choose what they
actually like to do as they will spend the rest of their life doing it. To be always update
themselves with the recent guidelines, science and education will not stop with graduation.

7. How to be a successful physician?

It is an important question. From my point of view, I think this need a lot of efforts and much
contributing factors. For example, you need to do fewer mistakes in your practice, the fewer
mistake you do the better you will be. A well-established relationship with your patients is
mandatory also. And you need to understand your patient’s needs and concern and always pay
sympathy for their suffers. Last but not least, be always familiar with recent updates guidelines.

8. What was the last training you had?

Let me see. On academic, I passed the Australian Medical Council exam part one on June 2017.
On practical side, I got the ACLS Advanced Cardiopulmonary Life Support Course on October
2017.

9. What is the recent medical advance you heard about?

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 Speaking Role Play Template
1. Introduction ► 2. Sympathy &History ► 3. Diagnosis ► 4. Management► 5. Reassurance 6. Reluctant patient
► 7. Checking understanding Ending ►8. Sign posting ► 9. Ending & 10. Special cases
1. Introduction:
Good afternoon, my name is doctor …. , I am
the treating doctor for today. How can I help
you?
FU visit: Good afternoon, nice to meet you
again. How are you so far? //How can I help
you?
2. Sympathy & History:
A. Starting:
Oh, I am really sorry to hear that, it must
have been very painful/ it must be
stressful for you but can I ask you some
questions first if you don’t mind?
all right Mr. … I appreciate your (fears,
worries, concern, etc.)
would you mind if I ask you a few further
questions regarding this situation?
B. Clarify:
* What about appetite? Are you eating
well?
* Do you have // Have you had any
symptoms like …?
Could you describe the pain? Does it
occur all the time or just now and again?
* Does anything special make it worse or
relieve it?
Does anything seem to bring it on or
aggravate it?
C. Site:
* Which part of your body is affected?
* Could you tell me where the pain is?
* Can you tell me where it hurts?
D. Duration: When did it start?
How long have you had it// been suffering
from this problem// been feeling like that?
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E. End of history:
* Have you tried/taken any medication for it?
* Is there anything else that is bothering you?
3. Diagnosis:
A. Well, based on your symptoms and
after examination, I believe that you have
what is called …. , and let me explain ….
* You are suffering from a condition
known as… have you ever heared of that?
* The X ray indicates that you have ….. //
the tests show that it is probably a
condition known as ….. and let me
explain….
B. It is a condition caused by …. The
symptoms include ….. the best treatment
is...
4. Management:
A. I think we would start with …
I will give you a prescription for ...
I’ll write a referral letter to …
We will run some tests to see …
B. First of all …… it is also important to
…. do you think you can do it?
C. There are some very effective
strategies to cope with …… I would like
to explain them for you Is that okay?
D. I see that must be a very difficult
situation for you but the good news is that
there are several options available which
will help you. Would you like to hear
more about that?
D. It is a good time to start …. , in terms
of ……. , it will be necessary for you to…
5. Reassurance: Finally, after agreement: I’m pleased to
hear that. Now …
* Rest assured, this is quite a common It is
nothing to get alarmed about… 7. Checking understanding:
* Let me reassure you that eczema is self-
limited. 1. Is that clear // am I clear so far? // How
* Don’t worry, if you can follow my does that sound// Am I clear till now?
advice you will get much better soon. 2. Do you think you can do that // Do you
* Don’t worry it will go away by itself in a feel comfortable about my advice?
few days with some rest. 3. Do you have any question so far //
* I know it sounds difficult at first but would you like me to tell you more about
with practice, I am sure you will be able to that?
* I am sure you won’t have any more
trouble 8. Signposting:
* The staff here are very experienced and
will take good care of you. A. First of all …
* as I said before // as I told you earlier …
6. Reluctant Patient: B. I’m concerned about your smoking
habit. It is important to // necessary to stop
A. I really appreciate your concern smoking
* I can understand your worries * I have to highlight/ emphasize the
* I know how you feel but let me … importance of … it is very beneficial for
B. I completely understand your busy you.
time, but your health is my priority, what * I recommend that // I strongly advice
is more important your health or your job? that you should lose weight.
so I think you should find some time to… C. For this reason … therefore..., so…
What is more important the risk of …or… however…, in addition... also..., now…
C. Let me assure you, if you follow my D. that is a good question and let me
advice the risk of heart attack will be explain to you that …
greatly reduced; however, if you do not * It is a good idea to…
follow my advice and continue to smoke
then the risk of heart attack is much 9. Ending:
higher.
you don’t want that to happen, do you? A. Do you have any more question?
D. Let me explain to you why the insulin
therapy is necessary for you. * Hope you feel better soon.
E. Of course you will need to continue…
However, I don’t think …. will be helpful * Wish you a speed recovery.
in your situation. I would prefer
alternatives. B. I would like to see you in a week, don’t
*I understand … but let me explain to you hesitate to call me if you have any
why it is not a good choice for you to … concerns.

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 10. Special Cases
1. Breaking bad news: 4. Quit smoking:
Now in order to quit smoking, I
A. June, we have the test results back recommend that you attend our
and I’m sorry to tell you that the cause hospital’s quit smoking program. They
of your symptoms could be more run regular classes and I can tell you
serious than you think and that is a risk that it has helped many patients
that …. succeed in giving up smoking. Would
B. I realize that this come as a shock to you like to do that?
you (pause) 5. Alcohol addiction:
C. It is a very important that we do a Is quite a serious condition, and you
few further investigations including … really need some outside support to
D. Fortunately, we caught it early and help you overcome this. Therefore, I
there are some treatment options such recommend that you contact alcoholics
as chemotherapy. anonymous, or I can contact them on
E. We will keep a close on you and be your behalf, and arrange an
sure you are in very good hands. appointment. How does that sound?5.
F. It may be a good idea to talk to 6. Starting insulin:
someone about this. Do you have any I understand that self-injecting insulin
relative or close friend who can help can be challenging at first, but at our
you and provide support? clinic we run weekly training programs
which are run by our nurses. They can
2. Refer to a dietician: take you through the process step by
Now regarding your diet, I can refer step and help you gain confidence.
you to a dietician and they can provide Would you like me to make an
really good guidelines and healthy food appointment for you?
options.
3. refer to physiotherapy: 7. Exercise:
One way to speed up the recovery You need to start an exercise program,
process and to increase mobility is to and I recommend joining a local gym
visit a physiotherapist. They will be or sports Centre. They will be able to
able to design a rehabilitation program create a fitness program that can help
based on your needs and it can make a you lose weight and feel healthier. Do
big difference. Would you like to try you think you can do that?
that?

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