A patient's biopsy results come back showing they have oral cancer, how would you break this news to them?

This question tests your communication empathy, professionalism and sympathy skills. Make sure you emphasise these qualities in your answer.

Here is a step-by-step approach to this situation:

• Ensure the patient is sat down and is comfortable, remove any distractions-eg make sure aspirator is not making any noise
• Inform the patient of their results and ask if they have understood you- remember to be gentle and empathetic. Try not to sound too factual it.
• Ask the patient if they have any questions
• Deliver the necessary information to them without using jargon- you don't want to confuse the patient, especially with a topic like this
• Be aware of their emotions- when you are explaining the disease to them and they seem upset, acknowledge this. You may have to pause a couple of times to really be there for them. You want to make the patient feel seen whilst also helping them with the next steps
• Explain what happens now- reassure the patient that you are referring them to a specialist and emphasise that they will be helped going forward.
• Provide them with written resources so they can take the information with them- it's possible that the patient hasn't retained much of your conversation due to shock, so it would be helpful to provide them with a useful leaflet

Make sure you support them in this difficult time, try not to be unrealistic though. You never want to give a patient false hope.