CTI SP Instructions for Patient (Actor)

From Clinicaltools.com

General instructions for SP actors (Silverman, 2006)

• Be as authentic as possible
• Remember you are acting a role
  • Show emotion as appropriate
  • Respond in character

Instructions to the SP actor on a particular case

Include the following in the instructions to the actor who will play the Standardized Patient role:

• What the patient wants to get out of this encounter
• History, any other background information required
• FAQs and their answers for questions that the health care providers are likely to ask and that we hope they will ask
• Personality description
• Hidden motives
• Specific instructions on what to lie or be vague about or to hide

Prompts and clues

The SP needs to be ready to guide the encounter so it stays on track using prompts and clues

• (after 2 mins, ask....)
• (after 3 mins, ask....)

SP Actor Characteristics

Standardized patients will meet the following criteria (ASPE)[1]:

• Clear communicator, articulate
• Not have a personal agenda about the illness or physicians
• Match gender (if audio is used, and if a video is used, race and age)
• Some acting ability to be able to convincingly simulate certain patient characteristics
• Able to communicate professionally
• Able to focus and follow guidelines carefully

• More Characteristics of SPs (Silverman, 2006)
• Summarizing skill
• Ability to Empathize

SP Actor Training

Standardized patients will be trained to (ASPE) [2]::

1. Describe confidentiality and how it will be maintained.
2. Simulate a clinical patient so closely that the clinician cannot detect the difference
3. Be consistent

The person providing feedback will be trained to (ASPE) [3]::

1. Communicate at a professional level
2. Be able to focus on and describe behaviors objectively and not be judgmental
3. Be able to handle conflict
4. Convey support and encouragement

Tips for SP training (Silverman, 2006)

• SPs meet a typical patient to develop the patient's voice
• Review a typical interview script
• SPs in training will watch experienced SPs
• Basic education in medical interviewing and good communication skills
• Monitor for comments likely to upset learners
• Assess in practice session by physician and psychology PhD for accuracy, authenticity, and constructive feedback
• All SPs react the same way to the same line of questioning and interactions
• Checked by expert consultants for authenticity

SPs must be trained in providing detailed, descriptive feedback (Kurts et al, 2004)

References Silverman J. Making it Real. A Practical Guide to Experiential Learning. Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford, U.K. 2006. Kurtz, SM., Silverman J, Draper JD. Teaching and Learning Communication Skills in Medicine. 2005; Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford.

Pages in the SP Category:

References Silverman J. Making it Real. A Practical Guide to Experiential Learning. Radcliffe Publishing, Oxford, U.K. 2006.