Evaluation of the effectiveness of a workshop using simulated patients to train students in problem identification and problem solving

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of role play to train medical students in history taking, problem identification and problem synthesis, and to assess whether the use of patient-educators as simulated patients enhances student learning outcomes. METHOD: This study adopted a mixed method two-armed quasi-experimental study design. In the 2012-13 academic year, all 180 third year medical students at the University of Hong Kong participated in the Problem Solving Workshop during the Family Medicine rotation. Students were randomly assigned into two groups: the intervention group had four simulated patients role playing their own clinical cases whereas the control group had workshop facilitators role playing the same cases. Before and after the workshop, the students watched a videotaped clinical consultation and completed a Medical Record Form. Students paired up to role play as a doctor to take a history ...