The Use of Standardized Patients in Athletic Training Education

Abstract

Context: Standardized patients are widely used in health care programs to both teach and evaluate the communication and clinical skills of students. Although athletic training education programs (ATEPs) commonly use simulations, little information exists related to the use and implementation of standardized patients (SPs). Objective: To provide strategies to use SPs with athletic training students and limited resources. Background: Standardized patient encounters differ from simulations. Simulations require students to perform clinical skills on a mock patient or athlete who has no training to consistently portray a particular injury or illness. SP encounters are consistent, carefully crafted portrayals of injuries or illnesses by trained individuals. Synthesis: A feasible way to use SPs in an ATEP is the time-in-time-out method which allows students to not only examine a SP, but also interact with and obtain immediate feedback from their instructor. Research with athletic training students has revealed that SP encounters are both realistic and worthwhile. Many resources exist to initiate the use of standardized patients in ATEPs, including various research publications, and online resources such as MedEd Portal and the Association of Standardized Patient Educators. Results: The use of SPs enhances learning opportunities for students and provides a format for real-time evaluation for instructors. Recommendation(s): Educators should consider using athletic training students and/or theater students to serve as SPs. Also, a local hospital or other SP programs at a local university may offer the use of their facilities or resources to initiate the use of SPs in your ATEP. Conclusion(s): Many resources are needed to implement the use of standardized patients into an ATEP, but the experience can be well worth the expense to provide a realistic and worthwhile learning experience for students.