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Using standardized patients as teachers: a concurrent controlled trial
R Davidson1, M Duerson, R Rathe
1Office of Generalist Education, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA. Davidra@medicine.ufla.edu
Purpose:
To compare two methods of teaching physical assessment, a traditional faculty-taught course and a course with components taught by specially trained standardized patients (SPs), with respect to students' performances and costs.
Method:
Medical students in their second year and without preliminary course work in physical assessment were taught by faculty-led small groups. Students in their first year were taught by faculty-led lecture-demonstrations and exercises led by physical examination teaching associates (PETAs). Both groups of students were tested with a performance-based examination that involved six identical stations. The costs of both courses were calculated using faculty and SP salaries.
Results:
There was no difference in students' performances on two of the stations, those involving the eye and abdominal examinations. The class that had been taught by PETAs, however, demonstrated a statistically significant performance advantage on the remaining four stations. The cost saving from using the PETAs was conservatively estimated at $24,155.
Conclusion:
Specially trained SPs can effectively teach the normal physical examination to medical students and are a less expensive alternative to traditional faculty small-group teaching methods.