Patient Counselling in OSCEs | Explaining Diagnoses & Medications | OSCE Talk

In this episode of OSCE Talk, we focus on one of the most important — and often underestimated — OSCE skills: patient counselling and communication.

We break down a simple, repeatable structure for counselling patients about new diagnoses and medications, helping you explain conditions clearly, confidently, and without jargon. The episode covers how to assess a patient’s prior knowledge, address concerns, link symptoms to the underlying condition, and check understanding throughout the consultation.

You’ll also learn how to stay flexible during patient interactions, adapt your explanations when patients interrupt or ask unexpected questions, and maintain confidence even when the condition is unfamiliar.

This episode is essential for OSCE stations involving explaining a diagnosis, starting a medication, or discussing management plans.

• A clear structure for patient counselling stations

• How to introduce yourself and set the agenda confidently

• How to assess a patient’s prior knowledge

• Techniques for explaining conditions without medical jargon

• How to address common patient concerns about medications

• The “Normally, we can probably manage” explanation structure

• How to link disease mechanisms back to patient symptoms

• When and how to adapt your explanation mid-consultation

• How to check understanding and encourage questions

• How to remain calm and professional in OSCE scenarios

  
  

  Disclaimer

  OSCE Talk is an educational resource designed primarily to help healthcare students prepare for clinical examinations. Episodes on the key, exam-relevant and salient points of each topic and are not intended to provide a complete or exhaustive review of clinical management.

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  Content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for formal teaching, clinical supervision, local policies or current national guidance. While we aim to keep our content accurate and useful, medical guidance changes over time and episodes may contain omissions or necessary simplifications.

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  Always refer to appropiate guidance when making clinical decisions or caring for patients.