Relatives stations test empathy and clear information-giving to someone who is frightened and not the patient. The examiner wants honesty without false reassurance, and emotional support under pressure.
How to structure it
- Find out what the relative already understands and what they most want to know.
- Explain the diagnosis and any time-critical treatment in plain terms.
- Outline the plan and what happens next, without overpromising outcomes.
- Acknowledge and respond to their fear and distress.
- Offer to keep them updated and answer questions.
Common pitfalls
- Giving false reassurance about outcomes.
- Drowning a frightened relative in detail.
- Neglecting the emotional support they need.
Examiners reward calm, honest, jargon-free updating with genuine empathy for the relative.
More communication with relatives stations
Practise this station with an AI patient
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