
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Raina Elley, C 
A1  - Clinick, Tara 
A1  - Wong, Chris 
A1  - Arroll, Bruce 
A1  - Kennelly, John 
A1  - Doerr, Henry 
A1  - Moir, Fiona 
A1  - Fishman, Tana 
A1  - Moyes, Simon 
A1  - Kerse, Ngaire 
T1  - Effectiveness of simulated clinical teaching in general practice: randomised controlled trial
JF  - Journal of Primary Health Care
JO  - J Prim Health Care
Y1  - 2012
VL  - 4
IS  - 4
SP  - 281
EP  - 287
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/HC12281 
N2  - INTRODUCTION: There are shortages in community-based general practice placements for medical students. Innovative ways to teach the skills required in general practice are needed. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of &#x91;simulated&#x92; general practice clinics using actors, compared with standard community-based general practice attachments in medical undergraduate education. METHODS: Randomised controlled trial involving medical students. Outcome measures included self-reported knowledge, clinical confidence, communication skills, and attitudes within general practice assessed at baseline and after one week. Intervention students participated in 24 simulated consultations with actor-patients over four days. Control students spent four days working with community-based general practitioners and real patients. RESULTS: Of 138 eligible medical students in the first clinical year, 128 (93%) participated and 106/128 (82%) completed the study. Those participating in simulated clinics improved in confidence in history-taking (p=0.03), communication skills (p=0.04), and ability to detect depression (p<0.001) compared with those undertaking community attachments. Those in community-based attachments felt more confident in managing upper respiratory tract infections (p<0.001), screening in general practice (p=0.03) and managing illness in the patient&#x92;s home (p=0.04). There was no difference between the groups in other measures. DISCUSSION: Simulated clinics may assist with development of communication skills within the general practice consultation and may also be used to supplement community-based attachment with real patients. Even so, confidence in the management of common conditions and procedures improves more with real patients. KEYWORDS: Medical education; patient simulation; primary health care; randomised controlled trial 
ER  -

