Standardized patient training: a modality for teaching interviewing skills

Standardized patient training involves an experiential approach to clinical training, using laypeople acting as patients to provide skills-building opportunities for health care providers.

Standardized patient training was used for 2 years in combination with a computer-based continuing education program or traditional inservice program to teach two important communication skills: human immunodeficiency virus-related risk assessment and posttest counseling.

Assessments by more than 500 participants in a rural setting were overwhelmingly positive, with increased willingness and ability to perform the risk assessment and counseling in clinical practice.

Standardized patient training is viewed very positively by participants. Longitudinal observations of clinical behaviors would be necessary to confirm behavior changes.