If you are asked a question to which the answer is not listed here, then answer in the negative or neutral.

CARDIOVASCULAR HISTORY 1
Your name is: Lucy/Luke Davies DOB: 21st January 1970

You are role-playing a patient that has come to see the doctor because: “I’ve got pain in the chest”
If the interviewer asks an open question, such as ‘can you tell me a bit more about that’ or uses a reflective
statement (such as ‘chest pain?’) then state the next 3 points below. If asked a specific question (such as
‘when did that start?’) then simply answer that question (i.e. 20 mins ago).
Began 20 minutes ago.
Sudden onset.
Present ever since.
Getting worse.
Central chest, moving into left arm and jaw
Constant crushing pain
Severe now (9/10 severity)
Nothing makes it worse
Lying still eases pain slightly
If asked if you’ve noticed anything else, say you’ve noticed that you’ve also felt a bit nauseous
and vomited once. If asked if you’ve noticed anything else (again), say ‘like what?’

Your thoughts and concerns:

If asked what you think this might be - You are worried that this is angina, like your dad.
If asked if you are worried about anything/have any concerns - You are very anxious as your dad
had to have open heart surgery and give up work and you don’t want to have to go through that.
If asked what you hope the doctor might do for you – you think he will order some special heart
tests

Other symptoms:
If asked specifically:
o About your bowel habit - You are always a bit constipated – only opening your bowels every
few days and passing small pellets of poo. You think that might be because of your poor diet
as you don’t eat much fruit and you’ve always had constipation.
o About your joints/back - You get back pain sometimes. It lasts a few days and then eases
off. It’s in the lower part of your back.

Your other medical/surgical problems are:

Diabetes (controlled by diet only and diagnosed 3 years ago)
Tonsils removed (tonsillectomy) aged 10 (general anaesthetic at Royal Liverpool Hosp)

Medication you take or have taken recently:

Ibuprofen 400mg one tablet three times a day if you get pain in your back (not taken regularly)
No allergies

Your family:
Your dad has angina (diagnosed when he was 42) but is otherwise well
Your sister has high cholesterol (since age 25) but is otherwise well
Your mother and all grandparents are alive and well

Your social situation:

You smoke 40 cigarettes per day
You drink 1 pint of normal strength lager on most days. You don’t think this is excessive.
You took cannabis when at school but otherwise no illicit drugs
You work as a lorry driver (and have done since leaving school at 16)
You live with your partner and one child in a terraced house which is rented. Money is tight.

1
If you are asked a question to which the answer is not listed here, then answer in the negative or neutral.

CARDIOVASCULAR HISTORY 2
Your name is: Lucy/Luke Davies DOB: 21st January 1970

You are role-playing a patient that has come to see the doctor because: “I’ve got palpitations”
If the interviewer asks an open question, such as ‘can you tell me a bit more about that’ or uses a reflective
statement (such as ‘palpitations?’) then state the next 3 points below. If asked a specific question (such as
‘when did that start?’) then simply answer that question (i.e. 3 months ago).
Present for the past three months.
Sudden onset.
Never had before 3 months ago.
Sensation feels as if heart missing a beat and then thumps in chest.
If sitting quietly then notice it more. Nothing else brings it on.
Don’t notice it as much if busy or distracted.
Occurs a few times per day on most days.
If asked if you’ve noticed anything else, say you’ve noticed that you’ve also felt a bit panicky when
it happens. If asked if you’ve noticed anything else (again), say ‘like what?’

Your thoughts and concerns:

If asked what you think this might be - You think you are having a heart attack.
If asked if you are worried about anything/have any concerns – You’re worried about it being a heart
attack as you’ve seen something similar on Holby City.
If asked what you hope the doctor might do for you – you think she will admit you to hospital.

Other symptoms:
If asked specifically:
o About shortness of breath and wheeze - You get wheezy and short of breath in cold air or
smoky environments. You have never needed hospital treatment for your asthma, usually
your inhaler relieves your wheeze when it occurs. You can get a cough at night too
sometimes.
o About your skin - You get some dry skin sometimes and it’s itchy and you wonder if it might
be eczema or something like that?

Your other medical/surgical problems are:

Asthma (diagnosed 3 years ago / no hospital admissions)
Wisdom teeth removed aged 16 at Arrowe Park Hosp under GA (no problems)

Medication you take or have taken recently:

Salbutamol inhaler 100mcg 2 puffs when you get wheezy (not taken regularly) taken for 3yrs
Allergic to cats (makes your asthma worse)

Your family:
Your dad had a heart attack when he was 50 but is otherwise well
Your sister has asthma (since age 5) but is otherwise well
Your mother is alive and well
Your maternal grandmother died of bowel cancer when she was 69 (diagnosed aged 68)
Your paternal grandmother died of a heart attack aged 55
Both grandfathers are alive and well

Your social situation:

You smoke 20 cigarettes per day
You drink a bottle of wine per week. You don’t think this is excessive.
You took cannabis when at school but otherwise no illicit drugs
You work as a shop assistant (and have done since leaving school aged 16)
You live with your partner and one child in a terraced house which is rented. Money is tight.