[Enhancing medical communication education through the implementation of the "Simulated Patient" program at the...

Introduction: The use of simulated patients is a widely accepted method for effectively teaching medical communication skills. Simulated patients also contribute to the teaching and assessment of clinical skills. The first institutionalized “Simulated Patient” program in Hungary was launched at the University Medical School of Pécs in 2019 to support the education of medical students. The program provides training and education for lay simulated patients in Hungarian, English and German. Objective: We evaluated the perception of Hungarian and international students four years after implementing the program. In addition to presenting the research results, we briefly describe the theoretical and practical aspects of the program. Method: Research data were gathered with the help of an online cross-sectional questionnaire survey using convenience sampling in the spring semester of 2023. The three scales of the questionnaire consisted of a total of 20 questions. The closed question types included multiple choice questions and ranking. The open-ended questions focused on positive experiences and difficulties. The survey was conducted among Hungarian, English, and German program students. 128 students responded to the survey. Results: Significant differences were found between the students in the three language programs regarding the assessment of the simulated patient consultations and feedback and the method’s effectiveness. Analysis of responses to open-ended questions highlighted the opportunity to practice real-life situations, the importance of feedback, increased confidence, and professional development. Conclusion: Consistent with the results of other studies in the field, our students’ perceptions of the introduction of the new methodology were positive. However, our current study has pointed out that students learning in different languages of instruction weigh the significance and impact of some aspects of the simulation patient program differently on their overall learning process and professional development. Orv Hetil. 2024; 165(33): 1286–1294.