The longitudinal simulated patient program: evaluations by teachers and students and feasibility

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Simulation in Healthcare
• Continuity of Care Training

Background:

• Simulated patients (SPs) are typically used in single encounters for medical training.
• Longitudinal patient encounters, involving repeated interactions with the same SP, are considered more suitable for chronic care training.
• Existing SP programs primarily focus on single-case encounters, limiting training in continuity of care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore and compare student and teacher evaluations of a new longitudinal SP program versus a traditional single-case SP program.
• To assess the feasibility of implementing a longitudinal SP program for chronic care training.
• To identify factors influencing the effectiveness and sustainability of SP-based medical education.

Main Methods:

• Year 3 medical students (N=272) participated in a longitudinal SP program with four encounters over eight months, focusing on a chronic health problem.
• Student evaluations of the longitudinal SP program were assessed using the validated MaSP questionnaire.
• Teachers and students completed a separate questionnaire to gather their views on the program and its feasibility.

Main Results:

• Both students and teachers generally reported positive experiences with the longitudinal SP program.
• Student evaluations of the longitudinal SP program were comparable to those of the single-case SP program.
• The longitudinal SP program was found to be not feasible due to faculty uncooperativeness and high workload.

Conclusions:

• Students perceive the longitudinal SP program as equivalent in value to the single-case SP program.
• The current iteration of the longitudinal SP program is not feasible for implementation.
• Further investigation is required to create an instructive, engaging, and practical SP program that effectively teaches continuity of care.