News: The Heartbeat of Medical Education: Simulated Patients in Action

By Kelvin Nick Yap Shi Han

Offering patients the best care possible is the mission of every doctor in the world. As every patient is unique, interpersonal and communication skills are crucial in empathising and understanding them effectively. So how do medical students prepare for this? That is where Simulated Patients (SPs) come in handy.

Simulated patient training is a teaching and learning methodology used in various fields, particularly in healthcare involving the use of simulated or standardised patients who mimic real patients in a controlled environment. The goal is to provide learners, such as medical students and healthcare professionals, with a realistic and safe opportunity to practice and enhance their skills.

In November 2023, in-person training for SPs was once again held at LKCMedicine post-COVID-19 with 15 workshops led by Dr Tanya Tierney, Assistant Dean of Clinical Communication, and seasoned actor/trainer Mr Simon Purse.

In addition to the workshops offered to the existing pool of SPs, 69 potential new SPs attended one of five orientation/audition workshops. Those attending ranged in experience, with some already working as SPs in other organisations and others with no prior experience. The workshops provided the basics of SP methodology (role-play and feedback skills) and outlined how SPs contribute to LCKMedicine’s MBBS program.

At the workshops, SPs were trained to authentically embody patients, thus creating immersive scenarios that would allow medical students to hone their clinical communication skills in a controlled setting and engage in situations that closely resemble those they may encounter in their professional practice.

Briefing by Mr Simon Purse before SP workshop

Highlights of the workshops included the following:

• "Authentic Role Portrayal": 52 SPs delved into the fundamentals, emphasising the vital connection between authentic portrayal and a rich learning experience.

• "Feedback That No One Else Can Give": 68 SPs explored the unique voice SPs bring to the room, offering feedback that shapes the trajectory of future doctors.

• "Putting It Into Practice": 33 SPs in small groups focused intensively on refining their role-play and feedback skills, paving the way for more challenging scenarios.

Both Dr Tierney and Mr Purse provided constructive feedback to the SPs at the workshops. Their detailed feedback identified areas of improvement for SPs to brush up on their acting skills, teaching them specific communication skills and behaviours that would portray them as realistically as possible.

Madam Ruth Lim Chiu Mei, a 61-year-old SP since 2013, believes that genuine portrayal, consistency, and specific feedback are key to creating a safe space for students to practice real-patient interactions.

The simulated patient training workshops are usually run on an annual basis at LKCMedicine. After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the in-person training was well-received by all SPs who participated in the workshops.