Abstract

Learning to talk with patients: feasibility of a volunteer simulated patient programme for first-year medical students

Author(s): Debra Nestel, Tanya Tierney, Angela Kubacki, Elizabeth Muir

Background: Medical educators have the challenge of providing learner-centred education in patient-centred environments. Simulation provides an acceptable alternative to meeting students needs while not compromising those of patients. Professional actors contribute extensively to teaching and assessment of communication and other professional skills but are a relatively expensive resource. We wanted to provide our first-year students with a safe and effective means of developing communication skills relevant to interacting with patients.

Methods: We developed a simulated patient programme using volunteers to provide students with an opportunity to interview and receive feedback from members of our local community. This paper describes the development of the programme and evaluates its feasibility. We used observations, questionnaires and focus group interviews in the evaluation that included students, volunteer simulated patients and faculty.

Results: The results showed that the session is feasible and can be delivered with minimal additional costs although it requires careful planning. All participants rated the experience positively with benefits identified for students and volunteers. Areas for development include an elaborated role proforma to support volunteers in planning their patient role, and a more discriminating and extended feedback rating form for volunteers to assess students’ patient-centred communication skills.

Conclusion: Our feasibility study identified strengths of the programme and areas for development. Both students and Volunteer Simulated Patients (VSPs) reported benefits. The programme enabled lay members of our community to make a meaningful contribution to undergraduate medical education by providing experiential learning opportunities for novice students.