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.

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ROLE-PLAYER SCRIPT

Opening Line

“My partner made me come here, Doc. She thinks I have a drinking problem, but I don’t think it’s that bad.”

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General Information

You are Michael Johnson, a 48-year-old carpenter who has been drinking heavily for the past 15 years. Your partner has been increasingly frustrated with your drinking and has threatened to leave if you don’t seek help. You don’t think your drinking is a big issue, but you’ve noticed some health problems, including morning shakes, nausea, and weight loss.

You usually drink in the evenings, but on some days, you need a drink in the morning to “steady your hands.” You’ve had a few blackouts, but you mostly brush them off. You often wake up feeling tired and sluggish and sometimes vomit in the morning, though you haven’t told anyone about this. Your appetite has been poor, and you’ve lost about 5 kg over the last six months.

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Specific Information

(Revealed Only When Asked)

Background Information

Your work has been affected—you’ve missed a few days recently and have made some mistakes, though no one has directly confronted you about it. Your boss has mentioned that you don’t seem yourself lately. You feel numbness and tingling in your hands and feet, which you think might be due to working with tools for long hours.

You have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, but you often forget to take your medications, especially if you’re drinking. You smoke 10 cigarettes a day but don’t use any illicit drugs.

Alcohol Use History

• You started drinking at around 15 years old, but it became a regular habit in your early 20s.
• Your usual drink is beer, but you sometimes have whiskey or rum if beer isn’t available.
• On average, you drink 8–12 standard drinks a day, sometimes more on weekends.
• You’ve tried cutting down before, but you always relapse after a few days because you feel irritable, anxious, and shaky.
• You drink alone or socially, but you hide some drinks from your partner because she complains about your drinking.
• You experience blackouts about once or twice a month, where you can’t remember parts of the night.
• You have never had a seizure but feel jittery and restless if you go too long without a drink.

Symptoms and Physical Health

• Morning shakes: You feel shaky in the mornings, but it goes away after your first drink.
• Nausea: You often feel nauseous in the morning and sometimes vomit, occasionally with streaks of blood.
• Weight loss: You’ve unintentionally lost 5 kg in the last 6 months.
• Tingling and numbness in your hands and feet: You think this is due to your job, but it has been getting worse.
• Fatigue: You feel exhausted all the time, even when you’re not hungover.
• Liver concerns: You sometimes feel a dull pain in your right upper abdomen, especially after drinking a lot.

Psychosocial Impact

• Relationship: Your partner is angry and fed up. She says you become irritable and withdrawn when you drink. She has threatened to leave if you don’t do something about it.
• Children: You have two teenage kids. You think they are embarrassed by your drinking.
• Work: You’ve missed work a few times, and your boss has noticed that you’re not as sharp as before.
• Finances: You spend a lot of money on alcohol, but you don’t track it. Your partner handles the bills.

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Emotional Cues and Body Language

• Initially defensive: Crossed arms, slightly slouched posture, avoiding direct eye contact.
• Skeptical but open: When the doctor speaks non-judgmentally, you relax slightly and maintain better eye contact.
• Frustrated but worried: If the doctor talks about health consequences, you start fidgeting and looking concerned.
• Guilt: When discussing family impact, you look down, sigh, and say, “Yeah, I know it’s not great for them.”

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Patient Concerns (Revealed If the Doctor Asks About Your Worries)

1. “Do you think I actually have a drinking problem?”
   • You genuinely want to know, but you also hope the doctor will say it’s not that bad.
2. “What happens if I stop drinking suddenly?”
   • You’ve heard stories about bad withdrawal symptoms, and you’re scared of what will happen if you try to quit.
3. “Do I have to quit completely? Can’t I just cut down?”
   • You don’t like the idea of quitting altogether and prefer to hear about ways to drink less.
4. “What about medication? Is there something that can help?”
   • You’re open to the idea but worried about side effects or whether it means you’re “officially an alcoholic.”

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Possible Reactions Based on the Doctor’s Approach

If the doctor is judgmental or pushes quitting too hard:

• You become defensive, cross your arms, and shut down.
• You might say, “Look, I don’t need a lecture. I came because my partner forced me.”
• You deflect by talking about how other people drink more than you.

If the doctor is empathetic and non-judgmental:

• You start opening up, sharing more details about your struggles.
• You look relieved when the doctor acknowledges that quitting is hard.
• You become more engaged when the doctor offers a step-by-step plan instead of just saying, “You need to stop drinking.”

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Your Expectations from This Consultation

• You want to know if your drinking is really a problem.
• You want to know what your options are—quitting, cutting down, medications.
• You want reassurance that stopping or reducing alcohol won’t be dangerous.
• You don’t want to feel judged or forced into something you’re not ready for.

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End of Consultation Cues

• If the doctor gives practical advice, you nod and consider it.
• If the doctor presses too hard, you might say, “I’ll think about it,” but leave without committing to a plan.
• If the doctor engages well, you might accept a follow-up appointment to discuss next steps.

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