Experiences of simulated patients and candidates in the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Simulated Surgery examination

Abstract

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN IN THIS AREA

•	Simulated patients (SPs) experience stress related to their performance as SPs.
•	SPs' consistency is maximised by regular training for them and the examiners.
•	The likelihood of stress may be related to role type and SP acting style.

WHAT THIS WORK ADDS

•	Some quantification of the problems surrounding SPs undertaking continuous effective role playing: (1) this is acceptable to them for a three-day period; (2) by the end of this period, a third of the SPs report stressful symptoms.
•	That almost all role players feel better able to make judgements of clinical competence as a result of the experience; none would change their general practitioner (GP).
•	That an SP-based test of consultation skills, perceived as challenging by its candidates, can be regarded by them as an appropriate, realistic and acceptable

SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

•	Investigation of translinguistic effects (differential first language) on candidate scores in SP-based examinations.

Keywords:

• communication skills
• consultation skills
• examination
• general practice
• registrars
• general practitioners
• MRCGP
• simulated patients

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mei Ling Denney

Mei Ling Denney, FRCGP, and Kamila Hawthorne, FRCGP, are Deputy Convenors, and Mike Bewick, FRCGP, is Convenor of the Simulated Surgery component of the MRCGP Examination, Royal College of General Practitioners, London.

Richard Wakeford

Richard Wakeford, MA CPsychol, is Consultant to the MRCGP Examination, Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge.

Kamila Hawthorne

Mei Ling Denney, FRCGP, and Kamila Hawthorne, FRCGP, are Deputy Convenors, and Mike Bewick, FRCGP, is Convenor of the Simulated Surgery component of the MRCGP Examination, Royal College of General Practitioners, London.

Mike Bewick

Mei Ling Denney, FRCGP, and Kamila Hawthorne, FRCGP, are Deputy Convenors, and Mike Bewick, FRCGP, is Convenor of the Simulated Surgery component of the MRCGP Examination, Royal College of General Practitioners, London.