A randomized trial of teaching clinical skills using virtual and live standardized patients.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND:
We developed computer-based virtual patient (VP) cases to complement an interactive continuing medical education (CME) course that emphasizes skills practice using standardized patients (SP). Virtual patient simulations have the significant advantages of requiring fewer personnel and resources, being accessible at any time, and being highly standardized. Little is known about the educational effectiveness of these new resources. We conducted a randomized trial to assess the educational effectiveness of VPs and SPs in teaching clinical skills.

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effectiveness of VP cases when compared with live SP cases in improving clinical skills and knowledge.

DESIGN:
Randomized trial.

PARTICIPANTS:
Fifty-five health care providers (registered nurses 45%, physicians 15%, other provider types 40%) who attended a CME program.

INTERVENTIONS:
Participants were randomized to receive either 4 live cases (n=32) or 2 live and 2 virtual cases (n=23). Other aspects of the course were identical for both groups.

RESULTS:
Participants in both groups were equivalent with respect to pre-post workshop improvement in comfort level (P=.66) and preparedness to respond (P=.61), to screen (P=.79), and to care (P=.055) for patients using the skills taught. There was no difference in subjective ratings of effectiveness of the VPs and SPs by participants who experienced both (P=.79). Improvement in diagnostic abilities were equivalent in groups who experienced cases either live or virtually.

CONCLUSIONS:
Improvements in performance and diagnostic ability were equivalent between the groups and participants rated VP and SP cases equally. Including well-designed VPs has a potentially powerful and efficient place in clinical skills training for practicing health care workers.

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Author information

Author/s: Triola, M (M); Feldman, H (H); Kalet, A L (AL); Zabar, S (S); Kachur, E K (EK); Gillespie, C (C); Anderson, M (M); Griesser, C (C); Lipkin, M (M);

Affiliation: NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. marc.triola(-atsign-)nyumc.org

Grants: U36/CCU319276-02-3 (Agency:PHS HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Journal of general internal medicine : official journal of the Society for Research and Education in Primary Care Internal Medicine (J Gen Intern Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-May; vol 21 (issue 5) : pp 424-9

Dates: Created 2006/05/17; Completed 2006/08/29; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 16704382, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Clinical Competence
Computer Simulation
Diagnosis
Disasters
Education, Medical, Continuing - methods
Female
Humans

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