The Use of Simulated Patients Is more Effective than Student Role Playing in Fostering Patient-Centred Attitudes during Communication Skills Training: A Mixed Method Study

Objective. While simulated patients (SPs) are considered a standard tool in communication skills training, there is no evidence thus far of their comparative benefit to the more cost-effective option of student role playing. We compared the effectiveness of both approaches in developing patient-centred attitudes in students. Methods. We retrospectively compared students who participated in the clinical communication course (CCC), based on student role playing (CCCsp-, n=160), to students who participated in the CCC with SPs (CCCsp+, n=146), and students with no formal CCC (CCC-, n=122). We used validated questionnaires to assess patient centredness. We also conducted focus group interviews (FGI) to better understand the impact of CCC with sp. Results. Students after the CCC with simulated patients achieved a significantly higher score in the patient-practitioner orientation scale than other groups (p