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COPE_PC Vignette #3

Read Vignette #3

Naveen and Dr. Peter

Naveen is a 68-year-old retired businessman, has a daughter and son who are married and are busy in their own lives. Naveen is suffering from arthritis, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Naveen is living on a modest fixed income. After the loss of his wife several years ago, Naveen often feels lonely and isolated. Social events often feel superficial to him.

Naveen regularly visits Dr. Peter, his family physician, who has noticed a decline in his mood and an increasing sense of isolation. While Dr. Peter offers compassionate support and suggests ways for Naveen to engage more with his community, such as joining clubs or participating in charitable activities, Naveen struggles to take these steps. Even in crowded settings, he feels disconnected, and attempts to reach out to friends often lead to disappointing conversations. Despite Dr. Peter’s ongoing support and resources, Naveen feels trapped in his loneliness, longing for meaningful connections that resonate with his former lifestyle.

After reading Vignette # 3, use your clinical expertise to reflect on what part of patient’s situation resulted in them experiencing social isolation.

When you have finished your reflection, click on the REVEAL button. This button reveals colour coded phrases to share the research evidence suggesting why the patient might be experiencing social isolation and their family physician’s perspective.





The following colour-coded phrases reveal the research evidence suggesting why this patient might be experiencing social isolation.

Self-perceived mental health: Feeling lonely can be associated with social isolation. Naveen mood has declined with the time –increasing his sense of isolation .

Community belonging: Feeling disconnected , attempts to reach out to friends often lead to disappointing conversations , and longing for meaningful connections indicates Naveen’s lack of community belonging, which can be associated with social isolation. Naveen’s modest fixed income may limit his social opportunities, increasing his isolation.

Resilience: Despite Dr. Peter’s suggestions, Naveen’s struggles in facing his isolation reflects his resilience in managing his mood and seeking improvement.

Family physician’s response: Dr. Peter has shown compassion and suggested ways for Naveen to engage with his community, but he may need to offer tailored support to help Naveen overcome his isolation.

Consider if what you see in the REVEAL supports your clinical assessment. Did you identify other factors? Did Dr. Peter’s response resonate with you? Did the REVEAL suggest new factors you had not considered? Did the family physician’s reponse resonate with you?

Click on the COPE_PC TOOL Simulation button. This button provides the COPE_PC Tool questions you may discuss with the patient to facilitate a discussion about social isolation.

Instructions for Vignette COPE_PC Tool Simulation


Imagine Naveen is your patient and is visiting today for routine checkup. You have noticed changes in Naveen and are concerned that she may be experiencing social isolation. You wonder how you might help Naveen. You ask Naveen if you can try the COPE_PC Tool, saying something perhaps like:

  • If Naveen agrees, think about how you might use the COPE_PC website:
    • Consider sharing the COPE_PC website computer screen with Naveen.
    • Would you start by showing Naveen the Infographic? the Resources pages? You find these webpages on the left-side navigation bar.
  • Now consider how you will use the COPE_PC Tool (provided below):
    • Will you go through all the questions?
    • Will you ask Naveen which questions she wants to answer? Will you decide to ask only some questions?
    • Will you share the research evidence that supports asking these questions?
    • Will you use the COPE_PC Tool just today or might you follow up at Naveen’s next appointment?
  • Answer the questions as a simulation exercise, choosing the answer that you see reflected in Naveen’s vignette.
    • Questions are colour-coded to indicate answers that reflect factors that protect someone from social isolation (orange colour) to items that may put someone at risk for social isolation (purple).
    • You can use the COPE_PC Tool to see if there are patterns of one colour which might indicate a longer conversation with Naveen – perhaps over multiple visits. Or you may see just a few questions that indicate a risk that you and Naveen decide to explore.
  • Once you have used the COPE_PC Tool for this vignette, please click on the “Go to the Next Vignette” button or use the left-side navigation bar at the top of this webpage to move to another vignette. Once you have reviewed the five vignettes, please click on the “Proceed to Finish COPE_PC Family Physician Education Module button found on the left-side navigation bar at the top of this webpage.

    • COPE_PC Tool Simulation


    In general, how is your mental health?

    Research indicates those who rate their self-rated mental health as ‘excellent’, ‘very good’ or ‘good’ are less likely to report experiencing social isolation than those who rate their mental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’.

    To what level do you consider yourself to be spiritual?

    Research indicates those who identify as ‘very spiritual’ or ‘moderately spiritual’ are less likely to report experiencing social isolation than those who identify as ‘not spiritual’ or ‘slightly spiritual’.

    Resilience #1 – I am able to adapt when changes occur

    Research indicates that the more resilient a person is, the less likely to report experiencing social isolation.

    Resilience #2 – I tend to bounce back after illness, injury, or other hardships.

    Research indicates the more resilient a person is, the less likely to report experiencing social isolation.

    How would you describe your sense of belonging to your local community?

    Research indicates those who identify as having a ‘very strong’ or “somewhat strong’ sense of community belonging are less likely to report experiencing social isolation than those who identify as ‘somewhat weak’ or ‘very weak’.

    How many places such as organizations, activities or clubs do you participate in or visit? Examples: Health care, clubs, community or senior centres, exercise facilities, restaurants, stores, places of worship, parks

    Research indicates the more places a person participates in or visits, the less likely they are to report experiencing social isolation.

    Do you use any social networking websites (e.g. Facebook) or apps (e.g. Zoom or Face Time) to communicate with friends and family?

    Research indicates those who use social networking websites are less likely to report experiencing social isolation than those who do not use social networking websites.