Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 31, 2025

An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Turning HEADSS: Utilizing Coached Role-Play to Increase Student Self-Efficacy with Adolescent Interviewing Skills
Tanya Fernandez1,2, Paritosh Kaul1,2
1Tanya Fernandez, MS, PA-C, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.
Introduction:
Adolescent patients make up a significant number of the primary care population, yet medical training specific to adolescents is inadequate and challenging. 2 Medical trainees report feeling less competent caring for adolescents compared to caring for infants and children. 3 Framed after an adolescent HEADSS (Home, Education/employment, peer group Activities, Drugs, Sexuality and Suicide/depression) interview role-play activity for pediatric clerkship students, 1,2 this study sought to investigate the impact that facilitated role-play would have on physician assistant (PA) students' self-perceived knowledge, skills, and comfort in interviewing adolescents.
Methods:
A coached role-play focused on skills used during a HEADSS interview was used to demonstrate the communication skills inherently important to adolescent encounters. Pre- and postintervention surveys were administered.
Results:
Data from 2 sequential cohorts (n = 88) showed statistically significant improvement in pre- versus postsession self-perception of knowledge ( p ≤ 0.0001) and skills ( p ≤ 0.0001), but not in comfort ( p = 0.1610).
Discussion:
Teaching PA students how best to engage with adolescents can be done effectively via coached role-play.
Related Concept Videos
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adolescence
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Case Studies
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison

