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The Use of Standardized Patients to Evaluate Interpersonal and Communication Skills of Anesthesiology Residents: A
Andrew B Casabianca1, Thomas J Papadimos1, Shashi B Bhatt1
1Department of Anesthesiology University of Toledo College of Medicine.
Objective:
The study was conducted to explore the feasibility and validity of using standardized patients (SPs) in assessing the interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) of anesthesiology residents.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the ICS of anesthesiology residents using SPs. Each resident participated in two staged encounters and was graded by the SPs using a modified SEGUE framework. Each encounter was videotaped and reviewed independently by two senior faculty members using the same checklist.
Results:
The ICS scores improved with advancement of training. This was confirmed by both SP and faculty (CA-1, 47.8 ± 9.8 and CA-3, 64.8 ± 1.9, P=0.022) assessments. There was strong inter-faculty agreement for individual residents (r=0.95, P<0.001). In-training exam (ITE) scores appeared to correlate with the faculty ICS score (r=0.61, p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Standardized patient encounters using a modified SEGUE framework may be a useful tool to assess ICS among anesthesiology residents. Resident performance improves even in the absence of interventions to teach ICS. The improvement appears to correlate with increasing experience and knowledge.
