Tristan Gorrindo1,2,3, Lee Baer4,5,6, Kathy M Sanders4,5,6, Robert J Birnbaum4,5,6, John A Fromson4,5,6, Kelly M Sutton-Skinner4,5,6, Sarah A Romeo4,5,6, Eugene V Beresin4,5,6. 1. Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. tristan.gorrindo@mgh.harvard.edu. 2. Dept. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. tristan.gorrindo@mgh.harvard.edu. 3. McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA. tristan.gorrindo@mgh.harvard.edu. 4. Dept. of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. 5. Dept. of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. 6. McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Medical specialties, including surgery, obstetrics, anesthesia, critical care, and trauma, have adopted simulation technology for measuring clinical competency as a routine part of their residency training programs; yet, simulation technologies have rarely been adapted or used for psychiatry training. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the development of a web-based computer simulation tool intended to assess physician competence in obtaining informed consent before prescribing antipsychotic medication to a simulated patient with symptoms of psychosis. METHOD: Eighteen residents participated in a pilot study of the Computer Simulation Assessment Tool (CSAT). Outcome measures included physician performance on required elements, pre- and post-test measures of physician confidence in obtaining informed consent, and levels of system usability. RESULTS: Data suggested that the CSAT increased physician confidence in obtaining informed consent and that it was easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: The CSAT was an effective educational tool in simulating patient-physician interactions, and it may serve as a model for use of other web-based simulations to augment traditional teaching methods in residency education.
BACKGROUND: Medical specialties, including surgery, obstetrics, anesthesia, critical care, and trauma, have adopted simulation technology for measuring clinical competency as a routine part of their residency training programs; yet, simulation technologies have rarely been adapted or used for psychiatry training. OBJECTIVE: The authors describe the development of a web-based computer simulation tool intended to assess physician competence in obtaining informed consent before prescribing antipsychotic medication to a simulated patient with symptoms of psychosis. METHOD: Eighteen residents participated in a pilot study of the Computer Simulation Assessment Tool (CSAT). Outcome measures included physician performance on required elements, pre- and post-test measures of physician confidence in obtaining informed consent, and levels of system usability. RESULTS: Data suggested that the CSAT increased physician confidence in obtaining informed consent and that it was easy to use. CONCLUSIONS: The CSAT was an effective educational tool in simulating patient-physician interactions, and it may serve as a model for use of other web-based simulations to augment traditional teaching methods in residency education.