Role-play the following scenarios. Before acting the roles you may wish to decide what type of assistance Person 1 requires. If it is not possible to role-play these scenarios, consider and explore the possible responses and communication strategies that will achieve effective communication and family/person-centred practice.

Scenario one: The male and the health professional

Person 1: Your name is Malcolm. You are a 28-year-old man who shattered your right tibia and fibula playing football. You are no longer in the acute ward but you remember your experience in emergency vividly.

You arrived in an ambulance, were hurriedly transferred to a cubicle in emergency with the curtains drawn and left alone in pain for what seemed like hours. Thirsty and exhausted, you realised you wanted to go to the toilet. You were not comfortable calling for help. Finally, a nurse came in with a tray. Without introducing himself, he asked particular questions and filled in a form. Then, without explaining what he was doing, he rolled up your sleeve. You pulled your arm away, not sure what was coming next. He grabbed the tray and left. As he disappeared through the curtains you quickly said you needed to go to the toilet. You heard the nurse say The one with the broken leg is uncooperative and wants a bottle. Some time later a different nurse arrived with a bottle. Every person who came in after that asked you the same questions. There were several hours of waiting and your lower back was hurting. A doctor finally arrived. She examined you and asked the same old questions. She explained you would need surgery, which would take place in about an hour. There were no explanations of anything and no time to ask questions or find out what happened to your expensive football boots. Your parents were an hour away and you had just terminated your relationship with your girlfriend of 5 years. You thought about how you were studying full-time and working part-time doing deliveries. You lay in emergency worrying about how you would pay your rent, drive your car and continue your studies. You felt lonely and unloved.

You are now attending a rehabilitation service and find it difficult to trust most health professionals because of the treatment you received on that first day, the day you broke your leg during that tackle. You are meeting a new health professional today. You are not interested in another change – it will mean more of the same questions.

Person 2: You are the health professional assigned to assess Malcolm. You have heard he is not trusting and although motivated to improve he is often sullen and reluctant to develop a relationship.

Scenario two: The female and the health professional

Person 1: Your name is Rachel and you are a solicitor in a big law firm. You are 40 years old and divorced, with two children aged 12 and 14 who live with you every alternate week. Your parents are ageing and quite frail. While you were driving to work a young driver drove through a red light, hitting the driver’s door next to you. You fractured four ribs and your right femur and lost some teeth in the accident. You are now in an emergency department. You are very worried about your children and the future, including paying the mortgage for your recently-purchased beautiful new apartment. You cannot think clearly or remember what has happened since the accident. Fear, anxiety and pain limit your ability to concentrate and understand what is happening around you.