Use of standardised patients in optometry training

Clinical relevance: The ability to articulate clinical findings to patients through effective communication is a key skill in all health-care professions.Background: Unannounced standardised patients (SPs) are successful in measuring quality of clinical care provided by qualified optometrists but have not been used in optometry training. Final-year undergraduate optometry students examine members of the public during primary care clinics observed by visiting clinical tutors (VCTs) who provide individualised feedback, highlighting areas for improvement. This pilot study investigates whether unannounced SPs can be used as an additional resource providing enhanced feedback on communication skills in undergraduate optometry education.Methods: Two SPs received intensive training on reporting on students eye examinations and communication skills through completion of pre-designed checklists for each patient encounter. Each SP presented 16 times as an unannounced patient for routine eye examinations. SPs' comments on communication skills of 32 students during 32 examinations was compared to feedback from 10 VCTs. SPs' performance was monitored to ensure consistency. Evaluation of differences in quality and quantity of feedback provided by SPs and VCTs was performed using thematic analysis and chi-squared tests. Student feedback on the use of SPs was obtained on completion of the study.Results: Qualitative thematic analysis revealed six overarching themes emerging from 64 sets of feedback. SPs gave significantly more feedback, both positive comments and comments with recommendations, than VCTs for the (a) total number of comments for each theme (p = 0.0000) and (b) detail and depth of these comments. Students reported that SPs commented on aspects of communication (e.g., establishing rapport and body language) not noted by VCTs.Conclusions: Unannounced SPs can provide enhanced feedback on communication skills to final-year undergraduate optometry students. Students greatly valued VCTs feedback; however, they felt SPs commented on elements of communication not noted by VCTs.