Handling Anxious or Distressed Patients

Patient anxiety and distress are among the most frequently encountered challenges in healthcare. Whether a patient is frightened about a procedure, overwhelmed by a new diagnosis, or distressed about a long wait, the ability to respond appropriately is a core professional skill — and a core SJT skill.

This lesson covers the psychology of patient anxiety, de-escalation techniques, and how to apply them in UCAT SJT scenarios.

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Understanding Patient Anxiety

Anxiety in healthcare settings is extremely common. Research suggests that a significant proportion of patients experience clinically relevant anxiety when attending hospital appointments, and this figure rises substantially for procedures and emergency admissions.

Common Sources of Healthcare Anxiety