Table of Contents
Introduction
Understanding how to communicate in a healthcare setting is essential for both ESL students and professionals. This post includes seven doctor-patient conversation examples, each followed by useful vocabulary and expressions. At the end, you’ll find a practice section with activities to help you review and use what you’ve learned.
Doctor and Patient Conversation Examples
Example 1: General Check-up
This is a simple conversation between a doctor and a patient during a routine general check-up.
- Doctor: Good morning. What brings you in today?
- Patient: I’ve been feeling tired and weak for the past week.
- Doctor: Have you been sleeping well and eating regularly?
- Patient: Not really. I’ve also lost my appetite.
- Doctor: I’ll run some tests to see what’s going on.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Check-up: A general medical examination to assess your health, even if you’re not sick.
- Tired and weak: Feeling low in energy and lacking strength.
- Lost appetite: No longer feeling hungry or interested in eating.
- Run some tests: When a doctor orders medical tests (like blood work or scans) to help diagnose a problem.
Example 2: Headache and Fever
Here is a conversation between doctor and patient about fever and headache:
- Doctor: What symptoms are you experiencing?
- Patient: I have a severe headache and a high fever.
- Doctor: Have you taken any medication?
- Patient: Just paracetamol, but it didn’t help much.
- Doctor: You might have an infection. Let’s do a blood test.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Severe headache: A very strong or intense pain in the head.
- High fever: A body temperature that is much higher than normal, usually over 38°C (100.4°F), often due to illness.
- Infection: A condition caused by harmful germs (bacteria, viruses, etc.) entering the body, leading to illness.
- Blood test: A medical test that checks a sample of your blood to understand your health or diagnose a condition.
Example 3: Stomach Pain
This dialogue shows a patient describing stomach pain and the doctor asking follow-up questions to understand the symptoms.
- Doctor: Where exactly is the pain?
- Patient: In the lower part of my stomach, especially after meals.
- Doctor: Do you feel nauseous or bloated?
- Patient: Yes, both.
- Doctor: It might be indigestion or food poisoning.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Lower stomach: The bottom part of the abdomen, often where digestive discomfort is felt.
- Nauseous: Feeling like you are going to vomit; having an upset stomach.
- Bloated: Feeling full or swollen in the stomach, often due to gas or indigestion.
- Food poisoning: Illness caused by eating contaminated or spoiled food, often resulting in nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Example 4: Skin Rash
This conversation features a patient with a skin rash and a doctor exploring possible causes and treatments.
- Doctor: How long have you had this rash?
- Patient: It started two days ago, and it’s getting worse.
- Doctor: Does it itch or hurt?
- Patient: It’s very itchy.
- Doctor: You may be having an allergic reaction.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Rash: A visible change on the skin, often red, bumpy, or inflamed.
- Itchy: Causing a strong desire to scratch the skin.
- Allergic reaction: The body’s negative response to a substance (like food, medicine, or pollen), which can cause symptoms like rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.
- Getting worse: A condition or symptom is becoming more serious or intense.
Example 5: Back Pain
This example shows a patient describing back pain and the doctor offering advice and treatment options.
- Doctor: Can you describe the pain in your back?
- Patient: It’s a dull ache that comes and goes.
- Doctor: Any recent lifting or injury?
- Patient: Yes, I carried something heavy last weekend.
- Doctor: I recommend rest and some anti-inflammatory medication.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Dull ache: A mild, persistent pain that is not sharp but uncomfortable.
- Lifting: The act of raising or carrying something, which can sometimes cause strain or injury.
- Anti-inflammatory: A type of medicine that reduces swelling, pain, and inflammation (e.g., ibuprofen).
- Rest: Taking a break from activity to allow the body to heal or recover.
Example 6: Cold and Cough
This example features a patient with cold and cough symptoms seeking relief and the doctor giving recommendations.
- Doctor: What symptoms are you having?
- Patient: I’ve got a blocked nose, sore throat, and a dry cough.
- Doctor: Do you have any allergies?
- Patient: No, I think it’s just a cold.
- Doctor: Drink plenty of fluids and get some rest.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Blocked nose: When your nose feels stuffy or congested, often due to a cold or allergies.
- Sore throat: Pain or irritation in the throat, especially when swallowing.
- Dry cough: A cough that doesn’t produce mucus or phlegm.
- Plenty of fluids: Drinking a lot of liquids like water, tea, or soup to stay hydrated and help recovery.
Example 7: Prescription and Follow-Up
This example covers a follow-up visit where the doctor explains how to take prescribed medication and checks on the patient’s progress.
- Doctor: I’m prescribing you antibiotics for five days.
- Patient: How many times a day should I take them?
- Doctor: Twice a day after meals. Don’t skip any doses.
- Patient: Should I come back for a check-up?
- Doctor: Yes, in one week.
Key Terms & Phrases:
- Prescribe: When a doctor gives instructions for a patient to take specific medicine or treatment.
- Antibiotics: Medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria.
- After meals: A common instruction meaning the medicine should be taken once you’ve eaten.
- Check-up: A general medical examination to check your health, often done regularly even if you’re not sick.
Practice Section
1. Matching Exercise
Match the medical phrase to its meaning:
| Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
| 1. Run some tests | a) A mild, constant pain that isn’t sharp |
| 2. Dull ache | b) A condition where you react to something like food, pollen, or medicine (e.g., rash or swelling) |
| 3. Blocked nose | c) To order or recommend medicine or treatment |
| 4. Prescribe | d) Swelling in the stomach, often after eating |
| 5. Bloating | e) When you feel the need to scratch your skin |
| 6. Itchy | f) When your nose is filled and it’s hard to breathe through it |
| 7. Allergic reaction | g) To do medical exams (like blood tests or X-rays) to find out what’s wrong |
2 – a
3 – f
4 – c
5 – d
6 – e
7 – b
2. Gap-Fill Exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct words from the box:
(Box: sore throat, allergic reaction, antibiotics, bloated, check-up, fever, prescribe)
- The doctor will ______ some medicine to help with your infection.
- I have a high ______ and feel weak.
- She has a ______ and can’t swallow properly.
- After eating, he felt ______ and uncomfortable.
- You should go for a ______ every year.
- He was having an ______ after eating shellfish.
- The doctor gave her ______ for the infection.
2. fever
3. sore throat
4. bloated
5. check‑up
6. allergic reaction
7. antibiotics
3. Writing Task
Write your own short doctor-patient dialogue.
Use at least 5 of the key terms from the conversations above. Try to include:
- A greeting
- A description of symptoms
- The doctor’s advice or prescription
4. Speaking Task (Role Play)
In pairs, act out one of the conversations from this post or create your own. Take turns being the doctor and the patient. Use the vocabulary and phrases highlighted above.
FAQs – Doctor and Patient Conversations
What is an example of doctor and patient dialogue?
An example would be:
Doctor: “What brings you in today?”
Patient: “I’ve had a sore throat and fever for three days.”
Doctor: “Let me take a look. Any difficulty swallowing?”
Patient: “Yes, a little.”
How do you start a conversation with a doctor?
Start by clearly stating your main concern or symptoms. For example:
“Hello, I’ve been feeling tired and have had a headache for the last few days.”
How to have a conversation with a patient?
Use simple, clear language and ask open-ended questions like:
“Can you tell me more about how you’re feeling?”
Also, listen actively and show empathy.
What is communication between a doctor and a patient?
It refers to the exchange of information, feelings, and concerns between a doctor and a patient to make accurate diagnoses and provide effective care.
How to speak confidently to patients?
Prepare what you want to say, use polite and respectful language, and maintain eye contact. Speak clearly and at a comfortable pace.
How to talk to a difficult patient?
Stay calm, listen carefully, and avoid interrupting. Acknowledge their feelings and try to find common ground. Always remain professional.
For an extensive list of health-related vocabulary, check this glossary!
Final Tip
Understanding and practicing medical dialogues is a great way to improve your English and prepare for real-life healthcare communication. Make sure to review the vocabulary regularly and try speaking aloud to improve fluency.
To help you with more medical-related vocabulary and resources, check the following pages:
