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Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
The management of patient encounter time in a high-stakes assessment using standardized patients
K A Chambers1, J R Boulet, N E Gary
1Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to gather information regarding the appropriateness of the length of time allotted for candidates to complete the history taking and physical examination tasks in a high-stakes standardized patient (SP) assessment.
Design:
Data were collected on actual time used by 1548 examinees for each of their 10 standardized patient encounters, for which a maximum of 15 minutes was allotted, but not required.
Setting:
The Clinical Skills Assessment Center of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Subjects:
Graduates of foreign medical schools who are seeking ECFMG certification.
Results:
The average time spent with the standardized patient was 13.3 minutes, suggesting that the 15-minute time limit was sufficient. A positive correlation was found between data-gathering scores and patient interview times. Candidates did tend to spend more time with SPs presenting with cases involving complex histories, as well as with cases of chronic conditions.
Conclusions:
Candidate time use varied as a function of type of clinical encounter, providing additional evidence of the content validity of the Clinical Skills Assessment.
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