A ten-year review of the literature on the use of standardized patients in teaching and learning: 1996–2005

Abstract

Background: Although there is a growing body of literature on the educational use of standardized patients (SP) in teaching and learning, there have been no reviews on their value.

Objective: To determine whether the educational use of SPs has an effect on the knowledge, skills, and behaviour of learners in the health professions.

Methods: English-language articles covering the period 1996–2005 were reviewed to address the issue of to what extent has the use of SPs affected the knowledge, skills and performance of learners. Out of 797 abstracts, 69 articles, which met the review criteria, were selected. An adaptation of Kirkpatrick's model was used to classify and analyse the articles.

Results: Most of the learners were students in medicine and nursing. SPs were used mostly to teach communication skills and clinical skills. The study designs were case-control (29%), pre-test/post-test (24.6%), post-test only (26.1%) and qualitative studies (20.3%).

Methodological issues: Most of the studies had weak research designs. More rigorous designs with control or comparison groups should be used in future research.

Conclusions: Most studies reported that the educational use of SPs was valuable. More rigorous studies would support the evidence-based use of SPs in teaching and learning.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Win May

WIN MAY, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor in the Division of Medical Education, and the Director of the Standardized Patient Program at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Her special interests are standardized patient feedback, assessment of clinical performance, faculty development, and emotional intelligence.

Joo Hyun Park

JOO HYUN PARK, MD, PhD, MSEd, is Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Education and the Department of Internal Medicine in the College of Medicine, at the Catholic University of Korea. His special interests lie in standardized patients, faculty development, curriculum development, and educational environments.

Justin P. Lee

JUSTIN P. LEE, is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, and a third-year medical student at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.