CCE-CE-001

ROLE PLAYER INSTRUCTIONS

Just like a consultation with a doctor, the candidate will ask you a series of questions.
The OPENING LINE is always to be said exactly as written. This is the only part of the script
which will be the same for all candidates. Where the candidate goes after the opening line is
up to them.

The remainder of the information is to be given based on the questions asked by the
candidate.

The information in the following script are core pieces of information. The core pieces of
information will not necessarily follow the order in the script but should be given when cued
by the candidate’s question.

GENERAL INFORMATION can be given relatively freely. After the opening line, most
candidates will ask an open question like “Can you tell me more about that?” You can provide
the GENERAL INFORMATION in response to that sort of question.

SPECIFIC INFORMATION should only be given when the candidate asks a relevant question.
Candidates don’t need to ask for all the information in the SPECIFIC INFORMATION section,
but all the relevant information is given there should they want to.

Each line or dot point in the SPECIFIC INFORMATION section is an appropriate chunk of
information which can be provided to the candidate when asked a relevant question.

Do not give extra information than asked.

Do not provide details which are not given in the information chunks (i.e.: do not elaborate
or ad-lib).

If the candidate asks a question that is not given in the script, the best way to respond is with
a generic response indicating there is no problem. For example:

Candidate: “How many hours do you sleep?”
Response: “I’m sleeping fine.” / “I don’t have any concerns about my sleep.”

The case may have specific QUESTIONS to ask the candidate. You can start asking the
QUESTIONS if the candidate asks about your ideas or concerns or questions.

Ask the other questions in a conversational way. You do not need to ask all the questions. The
aim should be to ask most of the questions but without interrupting the candidate.

The Patient Record Summary is also included. This is not part of the script but is included for
your general information.

If you need help in understanding any of the medical information in the script, ask the College
examiner who will be with you, and they can help to explain the terms or the conditions.

Opening Line

“Doctor, I just feel like I’m slowing down a lot these days. My daughter’s worried, but I’m fine, really.”

General Information

(Provide freely if prompted with open-ended questions like, “Can you tell me more about that?” or “How have things been for you lately?”)

• You have noticed you’re getting tired more easily and sometimes feel short of breath, especially when walking up stairs or carrying groceries.
• You sometimes feel dizzy when standing up quickly, which makes you worry about falling.
• Your joints have been hurting more, particularly your knees and hips, making it harder to stand up after sitting for a while or walk long distances.

Specific Information

(Provide only if the candidate asks specific, relevant questions.)

Background Information

• You occasionally forget things, like where you put your keys or whether you’ve taken your morning medications.
• Your appetite has been lower, and you’ve lost a little weight without trying.
• Your daughter Emily visits once a week, helps with groceries and cleaning, but you don’t want to burden her.

Physical Health

• You’ve had two falls recently, both times tripping over your own feet, but you didn’t get seriously hurt. You didn’t tell Emily because you didn’t want her to worry.
• You sometimes forget to take your medications, especially in the evenings.
• You sometimes wake up at night short of breath but don’t think much of it.
• Your ankles swell up a bit by the end of the day, but it goes away overnight.
• You feel more sluggish and lightheaded in the mornings, and your legs feel weak when you first get up.
• You have occasional chest tightness but think it’s just your COPD.
• You haven’t been driving much lately because you don’t feel as sharp behind the wheel.

Mental and Emotional Well-being

• You’ve been feeling a bit low lately, especially in the evenings, and sometimes struggle to find motivation to do things you used to enjoy, like gardening.
• You miss your wife, and some evenings feel very lonely.
• You sometimes feel like you’re becoming a burden on your daughter.
• You’ve been less interested in socialising, even skipping your usual coffee meet-up with friends.
• You don’t feel as useful anymore and worry about losing your independence.

Living Situation & Support

• You live alone and value your independence.
• You haven’t considered home care services before but might be open to discussing them.
• You don’t like the idea of a nursing home and want to stay in your own home for as long as possible.
• You sometimes struggle with housework, especially vacuuming and lifting heavy things.
• You worry about what will happen if your health worsens, but you’ve never had a formal advance care planning discussion.

Emotional Reactions

• If the candidate suggests home help, you might initially resist, saying, “I don’t think I need that just yet.”
• If the candidate expresses concern about your memory, you should downplay it at first, saying, “Oh, I think that’s just normal forgetfulness.”
• If the candidate mentions your falls, you might try to brush it off, saying, “I wasn’t being careful. I’ll just have to watch my step.”
• If the candidate brings up advance care planning, you might be hesitant, saying, “I don’t really like to think about that.”

Questions for the Candidate

The following questions should be asked at appropriate points in the conversation. Try to space them out naturally, rather than asking all at once.

1. “Am I going to lose my independence?” (Ask if the candidate discusses home help, falls, or frailty.)
2. “Are my medications making me feel worse?” (Ask if the candidate talks about polypharmacy or medication side effects.)
3. “Should I be worried about my memory?” (Ask if the candidate discusses cognitive screening or mentions memory problems.)
4. “What can I do to avoid going into a nursing home?” (Ask if the candidate talks about future planning or support options.)

Challenging the Candidate

If the candidate does not explore key areas (such as falls risk, medication side effects, mental health, or advance care planning), remain vague about your concerns. If they fail to ask, do not volunteer the information unless absolutely necessary.

For example:

• If they don’t ask about falls, do not mention them unless directly prompted.
• If they don’t ask about medication adherence, only say, “I take my tablets most days.”
• If they don’t assess mood, just say, “I’ve been okay, just a little off lately.”

If the candidate is too pushy about home help or moving into care, respond with slight frustration:
“I don’t think I need that yet! I’m managing fine on my own.”

This will test their ability to negotiate a care plan sensitively and adapt their approach.