Getting Started
Giving practice members a chance to try out new skills makes learning more fun and effective. Below are some ideas for role playing exercises. You can have people pair up to practice or play the patient with a volunteer.
You can also use AHRQ's teach-back role play scenarios to practice using the teach-back method.
Role Play 1.
Call a patient to remind them about an appointment the next day that will include a Brown Bag Medicine Review.
After the role play, discuss:
- Did they introduce themselves clearly and in a friendly manner?
- Did they use a respectful, caring tone of voice?
- Did they speak at a moderate pace.
- Did they ask them to bring in I.D., insurance information, and all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, and herbals with them?
- Did they use teach-back to check understanding of the appointment time and what to bring?
- Did they offer to provide directions to the office?
- Were the directions clear, using landmarks to help the patient find their way?
Role Play 2.
You are prescribing antibiotics (10 days/500 mg/BID) for a child with streptococcal pharyngitis. You have samples of the pills. Explain to the child and parent how to take the medicine.
After the role play, discuss:
- Did they use a respectful, caring tone of voice?
- Did they speak at a moderate pace.
- Did they use clear instructions (e.g., "Take 1 pill in the morning and 1 pill at bedtime" instead of "Take 2 pills a day.")?
- Did they ask the parent to show how they would give the medicine?
- Did they check the parent understood it was important to finish all the medicine, even if their child was feeling better?
- Did they suggest a routine for remembering to give the child medicine (e.g., set an alarm for half an hour before breakfast and dinner)?
- Did they ask the parent if they would have difficulty paying for the medicine?
- Did they encourage questions using an open-ended phrase (e.g., "What questions do you have?" or "Tell me about what concerns you have.")?
Role Play 3.
You have just told a patient they have Type II diabetes. Tell them the “need to know” information using everyday words.
After the role play, discuss:
- Did they use a respectful, caring tone of voice?
- Did they use any medical terminology (e.g., blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin)?
- Did they limit themselves to 1 to 3 key points and repeat them?
- Did they speak at a moderate pace?
- Did they draw or use pictures?
- Did they use teach-back to check they were clear and the patient understood? Did they wait until the end to check, or chunk out the information and then check?
Did they encourage questions using an open-ended phrase (e.g., "I just gave you a lot of information. What questions do you have?" or "What would you like to go over or hear more about?")?