Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
10:38
Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
Simulated patients vs. standardized patients in objective structured clinical examinations
Zubin Austin1, Paul Gregory, Diana Tabak
1Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto,144 College Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2 Canada. zubin.austin@utoronto.ca
American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education
|December 7, 2006
Summary
Patient-actors enhance pharmacy education by simulating patient interactions, improving clinical skills and patient care understanding. This approach positively impacts students
Area of Science:
- Pharmacy Education
- Medical Simulation
- Health Professions Education
Background:
- Traditional pharmacy curricula often lack real-world patient interaction.
- Patient-actors offer a controlled environment to practice clinical skills.
- Distinguishing between standardized and simulated patient methodologies is crucial for effective training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the use of patient-actors in a senior-level pharmacy practice course.
- To compare the educational value of standardized versus simulated patient methodologies.
- To assess the impact of patient-actor education on student learning and long-term practice.
Main Methods:
- Utilized objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) for in-course and summative assessments.
- Employed external assessments to evaluate educational impact.
- Conducted interviews with graduates three years post-licensure to assess long-term effects.
Main Results:
- Students favored simulated patients over standardized patients for developing clinical and pharmaceutical care skills.
- Over 98% of students passed the licensing examination's OSCE component.
- Long-term follow-up indicated students valued the approach, gaining insight into patient psychosocial needs.
Conclusions:
- Simulated-patient educators are valuable additions to pharmacy curricula.
- Patient-actors provide essential real-world context for complex patient care.
- This methodology complements traditional teaching by enhancing practical skill development.