Can We Agree on Standards? International Voices in Simulated Patient Education

Miller, Jane; Smith, Cathy; Hölzer, Henrike; Blatt, Benjamin; Brem, Beate G. (7 September 2022). Can We Agree on Standards? International Voices in Simulated Patient Education. Patient education and counseling, 109(Supplement), p. 1. Elsevier Ireland 10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.015

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Background

Simulated (or standardized) patients (SPs) play a crucial role in the teaching and assessment of communication skills in healthcare. As this methodology has evolved, the SP educator has emerged as its own profession. In 2017, an international team from the Association of SP Educators (ASPE) published Standards of Best Practice (SOBPs) to guide practitioners. Investigators sought to assess the applicability of the SOBPs to the diverse contexts in which SP educators work around the world. In this study, investigators addressed two questions: 1. Are SOBPs relevant to SP educators around the world?; and 2. How can the SOBPs be enhanced or altered in future iterations?
Methods

Investigators used 60-minute, semi-structured interviews with 12 respondents from 11 countries. Researchers used purposive sampling. Respondents were intentionally recruited from 6 continents. Respondents included individuals who are active SP educators, but who are not ASPE members. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed using NVivo and investigators used thematic analysis.
Findings

While respondents provided many insights into the SOBPs and SP methodology, preliminary analysis has revealed three main themes. First, respondents described the role of the SOBPs in affirming current practices and guiding the development of future practices, including domains of safety in simulation and quality control. Second, respondents described how the SOBPs enable professional development through empowering evidence-based practice and promoting scholarship. Third, respondents offered recommendations for adaptation of the SOBPs to online simulation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Discussion

Successful simulation requires the utilization of practices most likely to lead to optimal learner outcomes. This study indicates that SP educators around the world view ASPE’s SOBPs as a powerful tool providing both guidance and flexibility. Results: suggest that the SOBPs serve as a valuable guide for working with SPs in diverse cultural contexts.

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