Creating realistic medical scenarios
SimChat supports medical history taking and counselling scenarios out of the box.
The quality of the AI interaction depends on the script you provide. A clear, detailed script ensures the AI can realistically portray the patient and provide a valuable learning experience for your learners.
What to include in a history taking script
For history taking scenarios, users are expected to gather information by asking questions. A strong script should include:
- Presenting complaint
- History of presenting complaint:** **onset, duration, severity, and associated symptoms (including important negatives and red flags)
- Relevant past medical, drug, and family history
- Ideas, concerns, and expectations (ICE):** **what the patient thinks is going on, what they are worried about, and what they hope for
- Social history: lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol, or occupation
- Emotional tone: how the patient feels (e.g. anxious, frustrated, relieved)
What to include in a counselling script
For counselling scenarios, the focus is on explaining information and supporting the patient. Useful details to include are:
- **Reason for consultation: **e.g. new diagnosis, starting treatment, or a planned procedure
- Patient’s existing knowledge: what they already understand about their condition or treatment
- Patient’s concerns: what they are worried about or struggling with
- Patient reactions: how the patient might respond emotionally or verbally to certain explanations
- Questions the patient might ask: so the interaction feels natural and realistic
Why detail matters
The more detail you include, the more realistic and educational the consultation will be. Detailed scripts ensure:
- Students practise realistic questioning and communication skills
- The AI provides consistent and accurate responses
- Learning outcomes align with your curriculum
Vague or incomplete scripts can result in unnatural conversations, as the AI will have to fill in gaps and make assumptions.
Updated on: 05/12/2025
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