| Interlocutor: SETTING: Hospital Ward |
| PATIENT: You are 32 years old and were admitted to the hospital overnight for monitoring after arriving with chest pain and dizziness yesterday. Tests have revealed no abnormalities, but you are still being monitored by ECG (electrocardiogram). The nurse has come to do clinical observations. TASK When asked, say that you slept reasonably well, but you’re unhappy at being woken at 6 a.m. Say that the chest pain and dizziness aren’t there now, but your heart feels as if it’s racing, and you feel anxious. Say you’ve had episodes of anxiety for about six months, but today it feels worse. Say that your GP prescribed an antidepressant, citalopram, a fortnight ago, but you haven’t been taking it regularly because you’ve read it’s for depression and you aren’t depressed. Say that you haven’t tried anything else, but you like the sound of relaxation techniques. Say that information about relaxation techniques would be really useful. |
| SETTING: Hospital Ward |
| NURSE: You see a 32-year-old patient who was admitted overnight for monitoring, following his/her arrival with chest pain and dizziness yesterday. All tests have proved negative but he/she is still being monitored by ECG (electrocardiogram). You have come to do clinical observations. TASK Find out if patient had a comfortable night. « Give reasons for patient being woken up early (e.g., hospital procedure, clinical observations before ward rounds: blood pressure, temperature, oxygen levels, etc.). Find out if patient’s symptoms are still present (chest pain, dizziness). Reassure patient about his/her heart rate (e.g., current ECG reading normal, monitoring to continue, no evidence of clinical problem, etc.). Find out if patient is taking medication for his/her anxiety. Give information about citalopram (SSRI: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, for anxiety as well as depression, need for regular intake, minimum 4-6 weeks to be effective, etc.). Advise patient to speak to his/her GP about medication if concerned. Explore any other treatment options tried (relaxation techniques, counselling, etc). Offer to give patient information leaflet/website recommendations for relaxation techniques. |