Creating realistic medical scenarios

SimChat supports medical history taking and counselling consultation 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, learners 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:

Learners 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.

If you don't want to write scenarios from scratch, you can import ready-made OSCE-style cases. See Using scenario libraries and importing scenarios.

Updated on: 24/06/2026

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