The risks and benefits of being a young female adolescent standardised patient

Abstract

Adolescent females showed no adverse effects when used extensively to portray risk-taking SPs. The focus groups provided the adolescents with an opportunity to debrief together. The adolescent SPs reported benefiting from this study but requested unanimously that they come "out of character" when giving feedback to the medical students.

Lessons learned from an adolescent simulated patient educational program: Five years of experience

“…Studies have reported on single experiments with adolescent SPs (Woodward & Gliva-McConvey 1995;Lane et al 1999;Hardoff & Schonmann 2001;Brown et al 2005) or on short term follow-up of adolescent SPs (Blake & Greaven 1999a, b;Hanson et al 2002;Blake et al 2006). However, we have found no studies in which an adolescent SP program was evaluated over multiple years.…”

“…The first focuses on the effects of role playing on the adolescent. Most studies found no negative effects of role playing on adolescent SPs (Woodward & GlivaMcConvey 1995;Blake & Greaven 1999a;Hanson et al 2002;Blake et al 2006). However, in a recent study adolescent SPs performing a suicidality role showed behavioral effects suggesting a transient depressive reaction (Hanson et al 2007).…”

“…Furthermore, in communicating with adolescents on sexual issues doctors should pay more explicit attention to sexuality and confidentiality (Boekeloo et al 1996). Because of these specific challenges, learning how to communicate with adolescents should be an important part of the communication skills training in the medical curriculum (Blake et al 2000(Blake et al , 2006Brown et al 2005).…”

“…However, the use of adolescent SPs in the teaching and evaluation of skills in undergraduate medical students (Blake & Greaven 1999a;Blake et al 2000Blake et al , 2006 as well as in residents and professionals (Lane et al 1999;Hardoff & Schonmann 2001) has scarcely been reported.…”

“…However, in a recent study adolescent SPs performing a suicidality role showed behavioral effects suggesting a transient depressive reaction (Hanson et al 2007). Careful selection of adolescent SPs may limit some possible adverse effects (Woodward & Gliva-McConvey 1995;Hanson et al 2002;Blake et al 2006). The second research theme focuses on structured feedback provided to students by adolescent SPs.…”