Candidate card · General practice, results follow-up
You are a GP. The patient, aged 29, came last week with tiredness and tingling in their feet. Blood tests show low vitamin B12; other results are normal. They have followed a vegan diet for four years.
Task
- Explain the result and how it may explain their symptoms.
- Explore the patient’s diet and any supplements.
- Explain the treatment options (injections, then supplements).
- Address their concerns about the ingredients of the treatment.
- Arrange follow-up.
Preparation: 3 minutes · Role-play: about 5 minutes
What to expect from the patient
- The patient worries the injections may contain animal products and does not want to stop being vegan.
- They assume the tiredness is “just stress at work”.
Sample phrases for each stage
Explaining
“Your blood test shows that your vitamin B12 level is low. B12 is important for energy and for the nerves, so it could well explain both the tiredness and the tingling.”
Exploring
“Could you tell me a bit about what you usually eat in a day, and whether you take any supplements?”
Respecting choices
“There’s no need to change your diet. Vegan diets can provide everything you need — B12 is the one nutrient that usually needs a supplement.”
Informing
“I can check the ingredients of the injection with our pharmacist, and there are vegan-friendly tablets for the longer term.”
Closing
“We’ll start the injections this week and recheck your symptoms in a couple of months.”
Common mistakes on this card
- Implying the diet is the problem, which damages rapport.
- Ignoring the tingling — a neurological symptom that makes treatment more urgent.
Say it out loud — with an AI patient
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