Using Standardized Patients for Neurology Mock Oral Exams
Author Information
Author(s): Brett Kissela, Steven Harris, Dawn Kleindorfer, Christopher Lindsell, Robert Pascuzzi, Daniel Woo, Jerzy Szaflarski, Daniel Kanter, Alex Schneider, Michael Sostok, Joseph Broderick
Primary Institution: University of Cincinnati
Hypothesis
Can standardized patients provide a reliable and valid alternative to real patients for assessing residents' clinical performance in mock oral board exams?
Conclusion
Standardized patients can be effectively used for mock oral boards, and initial experiences suggest positive outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- Residents scored similarly within one standard deviation of the mean, indicating consistent performance.
- The survey showed general satisfaction with the examination process among participants.
- Standardized patients were able to portray medical cases effectively, as perceived by both residents and faculty.
Takeaway
This study shows that using actors to simulate patients can help train doctors better by making exams fairer and more consistent.
Methodology
Residents participated in mock oral exams using standardized patients, who were trained to simulate specific medical cases, and were evaluated by faculty and the standardized patients themselves.
Potential Biases
Logistical challenges in obtaining multiple evaluators may introduce variability in scoring.
Limitations
The small sample size and the inability to have two faculty evaluators for each resident limit the conclusions that can be drawn.
Participant Demographics
Residents from the University of Cincinnati and Indiana University, including 3 PGY-2, 3 PGY-3, and 5 PGY-4 residents.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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