Real English, Real life

Category: OET

  • Session 5 – Pain Assessment (Post-Surgery)

    Session 5 – Pain Assessment (Post-Surgery)

    Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
    Duration: 50 minutes
    Skills: Listening + Speaking
    Theme: Post-surgery pain assessment
    Real-life Scenario: A doctor/nurse assessing a patient’s pain after an operation

    Objectives (new)

    By the end of this session, you will be able to:

    • ✅ Ask questions about pain severity, frequency, and quality using comparatives/superlatives (e.g., milder, more severe, the worst).
    • ✅ Recognise and use common pain descriptors (dull, sharp, throbbing, stabbing, burning, excruciating).
    • ✅ Conduct a structured pain assessment using follow-up questions (location, onset, duration, impact).
    • ✅ Use OET-style empathetic communication (signposting, reassurance).


    (Reviewed Objectives: Symptom description from Session 1, lifestyle advice from Session 2, signposting and reassuring from Session 3, note-writing and passive voice from Session 4.)

    WordDefinition (doctor-to-patient)Example (from lesson)
    dullpain that is not sharp, more like an ache“Is it a dull ache or sharp pain?”
    sharpsudden, clear pain“The pain feels sharp when you move?”
    throbbingpain that comes in pulses“You may feel a throbbing pain after surgery.”
    stabbingpain like being poked with a knife“She described a stabbing pain in the wound.”
    burninghot, fiery pain“The patient reports a burning sensation.”
    excruciatingextremely severe pain“The pain was excruciating after movement.”

    Recap:

    What signposting language can you use?
    • “First, let me explain what the test showed …”
    • “What this means for you is that …”
    • “The good news is that …”
    • “It’s not dangerous, just some swelling.”
    Last time, we practised writing hospital notes. What information do doctors/nurses need before they write them?

    symptoms, pain, actions

    Watch


    Listen to the following audio of a nurse asking a patient about post-op pain (OET test audio).
    What types of words did the patient use to describe pain? How did the doctor respond?

    https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxC70oTD793DEnn6DnItQjw7NHnbRC_Nd2?si=9wNPJDeL_GMRIWBX

    Listening Model (from OET Part A sample – post-op consultation).

    Listen to the audio of a patient describing pain after surgery, and complete a short note-filling task (severity, location, duration).

        Listen to the consultation between a
        doctor and a postsurgery patient on the
        ward. Complete the patient chart with
        severity, location, duration.
        Good morning, Mrs. Lewis. You’ve been in
        the surgical ward for 3 days now. How
        are you feeling today?
        Honestly, doctor, the pain is still
        there. It feels sharp when I move, but
        at rest, it’s more of a dull ache.
        I see. Would you say the sharp pain is
        more severe than before or a little
        milder now?
        It’s definitely more severe when I try
        to stand up. Yesterday it was moderate,
        but today I’d call it severe. At night,
        it was almost excruciating.
        I’m sorry to hear that. Can you describe
        the frequency of the pain? Is it
        constant or does it come and go?
        It’s mostly constant, but sometimes it feels
        throbbing, almost like a heartbeat in
        the wound. Once or twice, I had a sudden
        stabbing feeling when I coughed. And do
        you feel any burning sensation?
        Yes, occasionally it feels burning,
        especially around the stitches.
        Thank you for explaining that. I can see
        some swelling, but the lump is benign,
        so there’s no sign of infection or
        anything dangerous. The note has already
        been written in your observation chart.
        That’s a relief.
        You also mentioned stiffness in your
        leg. Is it worse than before?
        Yes, the stiffness is worse than
        yesterday.
        Okay, I’ll update your care plan. First,
        let me explain what this means. The pain
        is unpleasant, but it’s normal at this
        stage after surgery. The good news is
        that with physiootherapy and medication,
        it should gradually improve. What this
        means for you is that we’ll continue
        monitoring your pain closely and adjust
        the treatment if necessary.
        Thank you, doctor.
        You’re welcome. We’ll meet again
        tomorrow to check your progress.

        Grammar/Functional Focus:

        • Comparatives/superlatives: “Is the pain getting worse or better?” / “Is this the most severe pain you’ve had?”
        • Follow-up questions: “Can you tell me when it started?”, “Does it stay constant or does it come and go?”

        Patient Notes – Mrs. Lewis

        Background

        • On surgical (1) _______ for 3 days
        • Reports pain after operation

        Pain description

        • At rest: feels (2) _______ ache
        • On movement: feels (3) _______ pain
        • Severity yesterday: (4) _______
        • Severity today: (5) _______
        • At night: (6) _______ pain

        Frequency/Quality

        • Pain is mostly (7) _______
        • Sometimes feels (8) _______
        • Sudden (9) _______ pain when coughing
        • Occasional (10) _______ sensation near stitches

        Other symptoms

        • Some (11) _______ observed, but lump is (12) _______
        • Reports increased (13) _______ in leg

        Plan

        • Pain is unpleasant but normal at this stage
        • Progress will be (14) _______
        • Physiotherapy and medication to continue

        Teacher’s Answer Key

        1. ward
        2. dull
        3. sharp
        4. moderate
        5. severe
        6. excruciating
        7. constant
        8. throbbing
        9. stabbing
        10. burning
        11. swelling
        12. benign
        13. stiffness
        14. monitored

        Role-play (Doctor–Patient)

        • Location: “Where exactly is the pain?”
        • Severity: “On a scale of 1–10, how bad is it?”
        • Frequency: “Does it come and go or is it constant?”
        • Type: “Is it sharp, dull, or burning?”

        Listening

        Listen to another short patient extract (OET Part A/B) and complete a pain chart (severity, frequency, quality). Then, write 3 follow-up questions you would ask this patient.

        Can-do Checklist

        ✅Use at least 3 pain descriptors.

        ✅Ask 1 comparative/superlative question.

        ✅Show empathy (“I understand this must be difficult…”).

        📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

        🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

        Record a shadow reading of the video in the (Instruct and Model) section.

        Record your answer to the question in the (Independent Practice) section.

      1. Session 4 – Hospital Instructions & Notes

        Session 4 – Hospital Instructions & Notes

        Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
        Duration: 50 minutes
        Skills: Reading + Writing
        Theme: Ward instructions & care plans
        Real-life Scenario: A nurse preparing handover notes at the end of a hospital shift

        Objectives (new)

        By the end of this session, you will be able to:

        • ✅ Read and extract info from ward instructions and hospital memos (OET Reading Part B style).
        • ✅ Write a clear, structured nursing/doctor handover note using passive voice.

        Objectives (reviewed)

        • ✅ Use imperatives and modals to give advice (Session 2).
        • ✅ Explain medical information in simple, patient-friendly language (Session 3).
        • ✅ Describe symptoms using terms like chronic, persistent, and acute (Session 1).

        ward – hospital area where patients stay
        Example: The patient was kept in the surgical ward overnight.

        shift – work period for hospital staff
        Example: Vital signs were recorded during the night shift.

        admission – when a patient enters hospital
        Example: She was admitted yesterday for observation.

        discharge – when a patient leaves hospital
        Example: The discharge papers were prepared by the doctor.

        observation chart – sheet for recording vital signs
        Example: The blood pressure was written on the observation chart.

        mobility – ability to move/walk
        Example: Reduced mobility was noted in the care plan.

        referral form – paper sent to another doctor/service
        Example: A referral form was completed for physiotherapy.

        care plan – written plan for patient’s treatment
        Example: Daily physio sessions were included in the care plan.

        vital signs – key body measures (BP, pulse, temp)
        Example: The vital signs were checked every 4 hours.

        Recap: What can you now do after Sessions 1–3?

        Describe symptoms, give lifestyle advice, and explain tests.

        How does the staff receive instructions in a hospital?

        Reading

        Check the following hospital notice. Who writes this? Who reads it? What type of language is used?

        Hospital Notice: Vital Signs Monitoring and Escalation

        Scope: All inpatient wards
        Effective: Immediately

        1. Frequency
          Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation where applicable) must be recorded at least every four (4) hours unless a doctor has documented a different schedule in the care plan.
        2. Documentation
          All readings must be entered clearly and legibly on the Observation Chart, with date, time, and staff signature/ID for each set.
        3. Abnormal Readings
          If any parameter is outside the normal range, recheck within 15 minutes. If the abnormality persists or the patient’s condition deteriorates, notify the responsible doctor immediately and escalate via the early warning system (MEWS/NEWS as per hospital policy).
        4. Oxygen/Interventions
          If oxygen therapy or other interventions are started, document the indication, settings, and patient response on the Observation Chart and in the nursing notes.
        5. Handover
          Highlight significant changes and any pending reviews during shift handover.

        Accountability: Nurse-in-charge of shift
        Reviewed by: Infection Control & Patient Safety Committee (annual review)

        Read this handover note. Highlight imperative verbs: Monitor, Record, Refer, Discharge. Note and circle key terms.

        Nursing Handover Note – Ward 3B
        Patient: Mr. John Smith, 67 yrs (admitted with pneumonia)
        Date/Time: 22 Aug 2025, 07:00 hrs

        • Observations: Temp 37.8°C, BP 138/84, HR 92, SpO₂ 95% RA
        • Plan: Monitor vital signs every 4 hrs and record on obs chart.
        • If temp ≥ 38.5°C or SpO₂ ≤ 92%, notify MO immediately.
        • Patient mobilising with assistance; maintain IV antibiotics as charted.
        • Discharge planning: referral form sent to physiotherapy; awaiting review.

        RN Signature: ____________________

        Writing

        Example handover: “Patient admitted at 07:00, stable vital signs, mobility limited, referral to physio sent. Discharge planned for tomorrow.”

        Structure: Admission → Current status → Actions → Next steps.

        Read and answer

        If a patient’s vital signs fall outside the normal range, staff must:
        A. notify the next shift staff.
        B. record them on the observation chart and monitor closely.
        C. repeat the measurement, document it, and notify the doctor.

        Ward Observation Policy

        All admitted patients must have their vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure) checked and recorded on the observation chart every four hours unless otherwise directed by a doctor.
        If any results are abnormal, staff should repeat the measurement within 15 minutes. If the abnormality persists, the responsible doctor must be notified immediately.
        Failure to report significant changes in a patient’s condition during your shift may delay treatment and compromise patient safety.

        Read the following case and write a handover note

        Ward: 2A – Medical
        Patient: Mrs. Helen Brown, 72 yrs
        Admission: 21 Aug 2025, 15:00 hrs – admitted with chronic heart failure
        Observation Chart:

        • Temp 36.9°C, BP 150/90, HR 88, SpO₂ 94% on RA
          Mobility: Needs walking frame, short distances only
          Care Plan:
        • Monitor vital signs every 4 hrs
        • Low-salt diet, fluid restriction
        • Continue prescribed medications (diuretics)
          Referral: Cardiology team review requested
          Discharge: Expected in 2–3 days, home with community nurse follow-up

        Complete the handover note

        Patient ….. yesterday with …….. Current ……… stable. Mobility limited, walking frame required. …… includes fluid restriction, low-salt diet, and 4-hourly observations. ………. to cardiology sent; awaiting review. ………… in 2–3 days.

        Read the case

        Ward: 5C – Surgical
        Patient: Mr. Daniel Lee, 54 yrs
        Admission: 23 Aug 2025, 10:30 hrs – admitted for benign prostate enlargement
        Observation Chart: Temp 37.1°C, BP 132/80, HR 84, SpO₂ 97% RA
        Mobility: Independent, walks unassisted
        Care Plan:

        • Monitor vital signs 4-hourly
        • Encourage oral fluids
        • Pain management with paracetamol as charted
          Referral: Urology follow-up arranged
          Discharge: Planned for tomorrow morning if stable

        Write a handover note:

        …………………………………………………………….

        Can-do Checklist

        ☑ Used passive voice to highlight the object.

        ☑ Wrote a short, clear handover note.

        ☑ Recycled at least 5 glossary words.

        📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

        🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.


        Write a handover note for every case in the lesson.

      2. Session 3 – Explaining Medical Tests and Communication

        Session 3 – Explaining Medical Tests and Communication

        Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
        Duration: 50 minutes
        Skills: Listening + Speaking
        Theme: Explaining diagnostic tests/results – ultrasound
        Real-life Scenario: Doctor explains test results (ultrasound, blood tests) to a patient, using patient-friendly language and reassurance.

        Objectives (new)

        By the end of this session, you will be able to:

        • ✅Identify key details from patient consultations about diagnostic tests (Listening).
        • ✅Paraphrase medical terms into patient-friendly language (Speaking).
        • ✅Use signposting and reassurance when explaining results to patients.
        • ✅Answer patient questions clearly and empathetically.

        ConceptDefinitionExampleTranslation
        signposting phrasewords doctors use to explain information clearly and guide patientsFirst, let me explain what the test showed …عبارات إرشادية
        ×

        Recap Session 1 and 2:

        • How can you give advice to patients.
        • How can you describe the severity and frequency of a symptom?

        Have you ever had a medical test explained to you? How did you feel about it?

        What do you think a doctor might say to a patient about this test?
        fake_blood_test_anemia

        Listening Input – listen for test references

        You hear a general practitioner talking
        to a patient called Mrs. Lewis who has
        recently undergone an ultrasound and
        some blood tests. For questions 1
        through 12, complete the notes with a
        word or short phrase that you hear.
        Good morning, Mrs. Lewis. Let’s go over
        the results of the tests you had last
        week.
        Yes, doctor. I’ve been worried about
        what they might show.
        First, let me explain what the test
        showed. The ultrasound found a small
        abnormal lump in your lower abdomen. The
        good news is that it is benign, not
        malignant. So, it’s not cancer, and it’s
        not dangerous.
        That’s a relief.
        What this means for you is that we’ll
        monitor it closely, but there’s no
        immediate need for surgery. I’ll give
        you a referral to a specialist just so
        we can double check and be absolutely
        sure.
        Okay. Thank you. We also did a blood
        count and a cholesterol test. The blood
        count was normal, but your cholesterol
        is higher than it should be. Having high
        cholesterol can lead to severe heart
        disease. Combined with your sedentary
        lifestyle and family history, it
        increases the chance of problems later
        on.
        I see. Is that serious?
        Not right now, but it’s important to act
        early. I recommend reviewing your
        dietary intake. For example, try
        reducing portion sizes of fatty foods
        and increasing your hydration. You
        should do moderate exercise such as a
        30inut walk every day. This will reduce
        stiffness in your joints and lower
        inflammation.
        I think I can manage that.
        Excellent. You should also avoid smoking
        if you do, and you can try cutting down
        on alcohol consumption. These changes
        along with the referral will help keep
        everything under control.
        Thank you for explaining it so clearly.
        You’re welcome. The good news is that
        nothing here is life-threatening. And
        with some small lifestyle changes, you
        can improve your health significantly.
        We’ll meet again after the specialist

        Paraphrasing

        • “Your cholesterol levels are high” → “There is too much fat in your blood.”
        • “The inflammation is benign” → “It’s not dangerous, just some swelling.”

        Signposting phrases

        • “First, let me explain what the test showed …”
        • “What this means for you is that …”
        • “The good news is that …”

        Listening task: Patient: Mrs Lewis

        Test Results
        • Ultrasound showed a small (1) ______ lump
        • Doctor reassures it is (2) ______, not malignant
        • Doctor provides a (3) ______ to confirm with a specialist

        Blood Tests
        • (4) ______ test normal
        • (5) ______ test high
        • High cholesterol can (6) ______ heart disease

        Lifestyle Factors
        • Patient has a (7) ______ lifestyle
        • Family history adds to the (8) ______

        Advice Given
        • Review (9) ______ intake and reduce portion sizes
        • Increase (10) ______ and do moderate exercise
        • Exercise helps reduce (11) ______ in joints and lower inflammation
        • Doctor also advises cutting down on (12) ______ consumption

        Answers
        1. abnormal
        2. benign
        3. referral
        4. blood count
        5. cholesterol
        6. lead to (severe)
        7. sedentary lifestyle
        8. chance of problems
        9. dietary
        10. hydration
        11. stiffness
        12. alcohol

        Speaking role-play (with prompts):

        • Explain ultrasound results to a patient
          • First, let me explain …
          • The ultrasound showed …
          • The good news is that …
          • What that means for you is that …
          • The blood test showed that …
        • Respond to the questions:
          • Is it dangerous?
          • Do I need surgery?

        Quick Checklist – Did you:

        • ✅ Use paraphrasing terms
        • ✅ Reassure the patient
        • ✅ Use new glossary words

        Explain the test result

        You should:
        ✅Explain in patient-friendly words.
        ✅Use at least one signposting phrase.
        ✅Reassure the patient.

        fake_blood_test_anemia

        Can-do Checklist

        ✅Correct paraphrasing
        ✅Reassurance + empathy
        ✅Clear structure with signposting

        📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

        🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.

        Record a shadow reading of the video in the (Instruct and Model) section.

        Record your answer to the question in the (Independent Practice) section.

      3. Session 2 – Lifestyle Factors: Patient Forms & Advice

        Session 2 – Lifestyle Factors: Patient Forms & Advice

        Level: B1 (OET Medicine)
        Duration: 50 minutes
        Skills: Reading & Writing
        Theme: Lifestyle factors – identifying risks & giving recommendations
        Real-life Scenario: A GP reviewing a patient form and writing lifestyle advice

        Objectives (new)

        By the end of this session, you will be able to:

        • Write notes about lifestyle-related risk factors using gerunds
        • Write clear lifestyle recommendations using imperatives and modal verbs.
        • Use patient-friendly vocabulary to advise on diet, exercise, and lifestyle.

        Objectives (reviewed from Session 1):

        • Describe symptoms using severity (mild, moderate, severe/acute) and frequency (intermittent, constant/persistent, chronic) vocabulary.
        • Ask about frequency (How often, how many times a day/week).

        ConceptDefinitionExampleTranslation
        smoking cessationstopping smokingWe recommend smoking cessation support groups.الإقلاع عن التدخين
        sedentary lifestylesitting too much, not activeWorking at a desk all day leads to a sedentary lifestyle.أسلوب حياة خامل
        risk factorsomething that increases chance of illnessSmoking is a major risk factor for heart disease.عامل خطر
        portionthe amount of food served at one timeTry to reduce your portion size at dinner.حصة طعام
        moderate exercisesafe, regular physical activityWalking 30 minutes a day is moderate exercise.تمارين معتدلة
        hydrationkeeping the body supplied with waterGood hydration helps kidney health.ترطيب الجسم
        dietary intakethe food and drinks a person usually hasHis dietary intake includes too much sugar.المدخول الغذائي
        alcohol consumptionhow much alcohol someone drinksHer alcohol consumption is higher than safe limits.استهلاك الكحول
        ×

        Recap Session 1:

        • How do you ask about frequency?
        • How can you describe the severity and frequency of a symptom?

        Last time, we asked about and described symptoms. Today, we’ll look at lifestyle factors that affect health and how doctors give advice.

        What lifestyle questions do doctors usually ask?
        patient lifestyle questionnaire

        Reading Input – Patient Lifestyle Form

        Scan the following lifestyle questionnaire and look for key risk factors.

        patient lifestyle questionnaire – smith

        Doctor notes identifying key risk factors

        • Physical activity: sits 12 hours a day → sedentary lifestyle
        • Sleep routine: persistent late bedtime → fatigue and weakness
        • Diet: lots of snacks → overweight and obesity
        • Diet: poor dietary intake → underweight
        • Smoking: 10 cigarettes/day → severe lung diseases

        Write a note about the risk to the patient

        • Sitting 12 hours a day constantly can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and severe stiffness.
        • Sleeping late persistently can lead to moderate fatigue and weakness.
        • Eating large portions and lots of snacks can lead to obesity.
        • Smoking can lead to chronic lung diseases and dehydration.

        Pronunciation focus:

        • sedentary (/ˈsed.ən.tər.i/) → stress on sed
        • portion (/ˈpɔːr.ʃən/)
        • hydration (/haɪˈdreɪ.ʃən/)

        Grammar & Functional Language – Giving Advice (polite vs direct)

        • Imperatives:
          • Eat more vegetables.
          • Avoid snacks.
          • It’s important to ______.
        • Modals:
          • You should reduce alcohol.
          • You must stop smoking.
          • You could try walking after work.

        Take one factor from the doctor notes and write advice:

        • Sitting 12 hours a day can lead to a sedentary lifestyle. You should do moderate exercise.
        • Sleeping late can lead to fatigue and weakness. You could try sleeping early and reducing screen time before bedtime.

        Read a second patient form and highlight risk factors

        patient lifestyle questionnaire – fiona

        Fill in a chart in your notebook

        Lifestyle Factor → Risk → Advice

        Transform chart notes into recommendations

        • ______ can lead to (severity) (risk). You should ______.
        • ______ can lead to (severity) (risk). It’s important to ______.
        • ______ can lead to (severity) (risk). Try to ______.

        Example:

        No exercise → sedentary lifestyle → do moderate exercise

        Written recommendation:
        Not exercising can lead to persistent stiffness. You should do moderate exercise at least 3 times per week.

        Write a short paragraph (4–5 sentences) giving lifestyle advice to the patients (Fiona Packer and Simon Smith). Must include:

        • at least 4 glossary terms (new/reviewed)
        • at least 3 imperatives/modals
        • at least 3 gerunds
        Example Paragraph

        Your lifestyle shows several risk factors. Smoking can lead to severe lung disease. You must stop smoking and try smoking cessation support. Drinking alcohol can lead to severe health problems. Reduce alcohol consumption to safe limits.

        Can-do Checklist

        ☐ Use gerunds to begin sentences.
        ☐ Write advice using modals and imperatives.
        ☐ Write a 4-line paragraph about risk factors and advice.
        ☐ Choose patient-friendly words.
        ☐ Avoid grammar and spelling mistakes.

        📤 Create your own lifestyle questionnaire and ask friends to answer it.

        🎥 Write a patient advice note with recommendations for each friend.