“It’s Not an Acting Job…Don’t Underestimate What a Simulated Patient Does”: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of Simulated Patients in Health Professions Education
Lead Author: Shane A. Pritchard, BPhysio, et al
Submitted by: Kerensa Peterson, NBOME
Using an interpretivist research paradigm and qualitative design, these researchers from Australia considered simulated patients’ self-identified role within healthcare education. The researchers engaged 18 SPs in frank discussion about the SPs’ role in order to explore their experiences, perspectives and practices within their SP programs. The researchers have a rich discussion of themes that emerged from those SP conversations. They offer SP Educators ways to further benefit SPs and engage in quality educational experiences for learners with input from the professionals performing the simulation – the Simulated Patients themselves.