An evaluation of the usefulness of the standardized patient methodology in the assessment of surgery residents' communication skills.

OBJECTIVE: The overall objective of this study is to assess the usefulness of a standardized patient (SP) educational activity in the evaluation of surgery residents' communication skills.
DESIGN: This is a pre/post observational study on surgery residents' communication skills, attitudes, and self-perceptions after an educational activity with standardized patients.
SETTING: Scott & White Healthcare is a Central Texas-based non-profit integrated healthcare system with more than nine hospitals, 60 clinics, and a health plan. Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple is a Level-1 Trauma Center and the clinical site for the Texas A&M Health Science Center-College of Medicine in Temple, Texas. PARTICIPANTS: In all, 14 residents of the Texas A&M Health Science Center-College of Medicine/Scott & White General Surgery Residency Program participated in the SP education activity.
RESULTS: After the activity, residents agreed more with the statements: "Communication skills are a learned behavior" and "Effective communication with patients is more difficult in high-stress situations." A significant increase in positive attitude toward physician-patient communication was measured in PGY3 and PGY-4 residents after the activity. However, there was no significant difference in residents' self-perceptions of communication skills after the activity. The residents believed the activity was somewhat useful, and feedback from the SPs was informative and helpful.
CONCLUSIONS: Overall, in a formative setting, the SP methodology was a useful methodology to assess surgery residents' patient communication. The use of this methodology might require specific curriculum integration that is appropriate to the year of postgraduate training. This study demonstrates how SPs can be integrated into a Surgery Residency curriculum for teaching and assessing communication.