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Published on: February 13, 2020
Integration of role-playing into technical skills training: a randomized controlled trial
C Nikendei1, B Kraus, M Schrauth
1Department of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, University of Heidelberg Medical Hospital, Germany. christoph_nikendei@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Medical Teacher
|December 26, 2007
Summary
Role-playing in medical training significantly improves the realism of technical skills practice and enhances patient-physician communication. This method is valuable for medical students learning clinical skills.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Clinical Skills Training
- Simulation-Based Learning
Background:
- Efforts to improve technical skills training realism include role-playing and standardized patients.
- The impact of role-playing on training realism and student performance requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effect of role-playing on the realism of technical skills training.
- To assess the impact of role-playing on medical students' technical performance and patient-physician communication.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 36 medical students.
- Comparison of skills-lab sessions with and without role-playing for Doppler sonography and gastric tube insertion.
- Analysis of training realism via student surveys and assessment of technical performance and communication from videotaped sessions.
Main Results:
- Role-playing significantly increased the perceived realism of the physician's role.
- Students practicing with role-plays demonstrated significantly improved patient-physician communication.
- No significant difference was observed in students' technical performance between groups.
Conclusions:
- Role-playing enhances the realism of technical skills training and improves patient-physician communication.
- Medical students can effectively practice clinical technical skills using role-playing without being overstrained.
- Role-playing is a valuable pedagogical method for technical skills acquisition in medical education.
