Acting as standardized patients enhances family medicine residents’ self-reported skills in palliative care

Abstract

Recent publications have confirmed the use of standardized patients (SPs) in improving clinical skills and enhancing competency. Little research has studied the benefits residents may themselves gain in palliative care playing the role of SPs. Nineteen Family Medicine residents were recruited as standardized patients (FMR-SPs) for a mandatory palliative care workshop in communication for incoming, first-year trainees. Four months later, FMR-SPs reflected upon their own experiences. Two independent researchers performed thematic analysis of these interviews. Most of the residents were satisfied with their roles. Twelve reported improved understanding of self, their patients, the doctor-patient relationship, and the underlying philosophy of palliative care. They also described improved verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Eleven of 14 residents reflected upon behavioral changes in problem coping styles. All residents indicated an intention to apply the learning in their future work. Encouraging Thai Family Medicine residents, in years one through three, to portray SPs in palliative care appears to be a valuable learning experience for the resident. Future studies to validate whether this learning has been applied in subsequent practice are planned.

Clinical simulation with dramatization: gains perceived by students and health professionals

“…In the gains the learners perceived, the development of empathy could be observed, which involves the feeling of sensitization for the changes the other person feels and reflects moment by moment 80 . Empathy was a gain perceived in some studies analyzed 29 , 59 , 66 - 67 , 69 and measured during the role play strategy 69 .…”

Battling Bias in Primary Care Encounters: Informatics Designs to Support Clinicians

“…Researchers have used SSP to assess clinical communication and guide feedback tools that encourage empathetic, patient-centered communication[ 37 - 40 ]. The rationale for SSP systems stems from the fact that verbal and nonverbal communication skills can be measured for quality[ 41 ] and improvement[ 42 ].…”

The Need for Palliative Care in Pharmacy Education

“…Conclusion: Findings showed equivalent gains in self-efficacy and knowledge between students participating in a web-based PEOL curriculum in comparison with students learning similar content in a smallgroup format. Sittikariyakul P, 2015 39 Design: Nineteen family medicine residents were recruited as standardized patients (FMR-SPs) for a mandatory palliative care workshop in communication for incoming, first-year trainees. Assessment: Four months later, FMR-SPs reflected upon their own experiences.…”

“…Most experiences have been created for specific disciplines, while some have been interprofessional. [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47] Schools looking for small steps to incorporate palliative care-focused experiences into the PharmD curricula may look to Table 3 for reference. Many of these learning designs and assessment methods are already used by schools (eg, patient simulations), therefore finding places within the curriculum to adapt, or combine with, may be feasible and achievable.…”