Tell them they should use plain English, understandable by the patient, whenever possible. Ask patient to repeat back them to see if they really have understood.

Tell them to treat it as though they are a parent talking to young kids about sex--give them as much information about their situation as you think they can take in and understand at one go.

Tell them to use simple diagrams to help illustrate points.

Tell them to ask about who the patient has around to help with driving/note-taking, script filling etc.

Tell them to not let the patient leave a consultation without names/phone numbers and reassurances that there is someone they can contact between appointments about any queries/worries they may have--preferably typed up and reviewed regularly so that it's kept up to date.

Use Malka's wonderful idea of humorous invention of 'specialist' to demonstrate how a patient who has never heard of oral cancer feels on entering this new, confusing world.

And, of course, tell them about OCF!!

Brenda