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ABSTRACT
Teaching concepts with standardized clients/patients (SC) had been successfully implemented in the education of health professionals. Benefits were also demonstrated for social work education. Based on former experiences with simulated clients in medical education, we developed an innovative teaching concept for social work and medical students. We focused on the training of consultations with clients suffering from a serious illness like cancer—with different learning goals for medical students (e.g. breaking bad news) and social work students (e.g. psychosocial exploration and counseling). Both groups should gain knowledge about the other professions tasks and learn to handle clients’ emotional reactions. In addition to role-plays with simulated clients in small groups, the concept includes an interprofessional lecture by physicians, psychologists, social workers, and lawyers as well as a visit on the palliative care ward (for social work students only) and a research colloquium. A formative evaluation shows high satisfaction with the teaching concept. The students underline the realistic setting, interprofessional contact, authentic talks and direct feedback. The SC method and its interprofessional application proved to be a practicable and motivating way to enhance conversational skills.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Silke Neuderth
Prof. Dr. Silke Neuderth is psychologist and psychotherapist. She is Professor of Communication Skills and Group Programs for social work students at the University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg. She works with standardized clients for more than ten years.
Matthias Lukasczik
Dr. Matthias Lukasczik is psychologist and works as research assistant at the University of Würzburg (Department of Medical Psychology and Rehabilitation Sciences). Besides his research activities he teaches medical students, coordinates the standardized clients program and trains the actors.
Antje Thierolf
Dr. Antje Thierolf is a medical doctor. At the University of Würzburg (Department of Medical Psychology and Rehabilitation Sciences) she worked as research assistant and supported the training and coordination of standardized clients.
Hans-Dieter Wolf
Hans-Dieter Wolf is psychologist and works as research assistant at the University of Würzburg (Department of Medical Psychology and Rehabilitation Sciences). Besides his research activities he teaches medical students, coordinates the standardized clients program and trains the actors.
Birgitt van Oorschot
Birgitt van Oorschot Prof. Dr. Birgitt van Oorschot is a medical doctor. She is Professor of Palliative Care, senior physician at the Clinic for Radiotherapy and head of the Interdisciplinary Center of Palliative Care at Würzburg University Hospital. She works with standardized clients for more than ten years.
Sarah König
Prof. Dr. Sarah König is a medical doctor. She is the Director of the Institute and Chair of Medical Teaching and Medical Education Research at Würzburg University Hospital.
Dagmar Unz
Prof. Dr. Dagmar Unz is psychologist and Dean of the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences at the University of Applied Sciences in Würzburg. She is Professor of Communication Sciences, teaches communication skills inter alia in the bachelor program social work.
Tanja Henking
Prof. Dr. Tanja Henking, LL.M. is a lawyer. She is Professor of Medical Law and Criminal Law at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg. She has been working with standardized clients in different interdisciplinary settings for many years.