Strengths and Weaknesses of Simulated and Real Patients in the Teaching of Skills to Medical Students: A Review
Abstract
The aim of this review was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the roles of real and simulated patients in undergraduate medical education. The literature was reviewed in relation to four patient roles: real patients as educational "resource" (passive role), real patients as teachers (active role), and simulated patients as educational resource and teachers. Each of the four patient roles was found to have specific advantages and disadvantages from the perspectives of teachers, students, and patients. For example, advantages of real patients as educational resource were patient-centered learning and high patient satisfaction. Disadvantages were their limited availability and the variability in learning experiences among students. Despite the considerable amount of literature we found, many gaps in knowledge about patient roles in medical education remain and should be addressed by future studies.
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Opportunities to use simulation education are limited in terms of both location and time.
“Furthermore, simulation education is effective across many fields for learners, not just medical interviewing, but the opportunities to use such education are limited in terms of both location and time [6].”
From Enhancing Medical Interview Skills Through AI-Simulated Patient Interactions: Nonrandomized Controlled Trial (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
Simulation education is effective across many fields for learners, not just medical interviewing.
“Furthermore, simulation education is effective across many fields for learners, not just medical interviewing, but the opportunities to use such education are limited in terms of both location and time [6].”
From Enhancing Medical Interview Skills Through AI-Simulated Patient Interactions: Nonrandomized Controlled Trial (2024) · cites this paper as [6]
Cites
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Self-citationDeveloping the role of patients as teachers: literature review
Wykurz, G., & Kelly, D. (2002) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7368.818 · Cited by 289 · see citing works
The Physiologic and Psychological Effects of the Bedside Presentation
Simons, R. J., Baily, R. G., Zelis, R., & Zwillich, C. W. (1989) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm198911023211821 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
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Bokken, L., Rethans, J.-J., Jöbsis, Q., Duvivier, R., Scherpbier, A., & van der Vleuten, C. (2010) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/acm.0b013e3181c48130 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Self-citationYamamoto, A., Koda, M., Ogawa, H., Miyoshi, T., Maeda, Y., Otsuka, F., & Ino, H. (2024) · JMIR Medical Education · doi:10.2196/58753 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
“Furthermore, simulation education is effective across many fields for learners, not just medical interviewing, but the opportunities to use such education are limited in terms of both location and time [6].”
BackgroundStandardized Patients in Medical Education: A Review of the Literature
Flanagan, O. L., & Cummings, K. M. (2023) · Cureus · doi:10.7759/cureus.42027 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
The contribution of simulated patients to meaningful student learning
Lovink, A., Groenier, M., Van der Niet, A., Miedema, H., & Rethans, J.-J. (2021) · Perspectives on Medical Education · doi:10.1007/s40037-021-00684-7 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationLai, M. M. Y., Roberts, N., Mohebbi, M., & Martin, J. (2020) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/s12909-020-02171-9 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Patient-Centred education: what do students think?
Oswald, A., Czupryn, J., Wiseman, J., & Snell, L. (2014) · Medical Education · doi:10.1111/medu.12287 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Aper, L., Reniers, J., Derese, A., & Veldhuijzen, W. (2014) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/1472-6920-14-206 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bokken, L., Rethans, J.-J., Scherpbier, A. J. J. A., & van der Vleuten, C. P. M.
- Affiliations
- Maastricht University (NL)
- Venue
- Simulation in Healthcare: The Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 161-169
- ISSN
- 1559-2332 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2013720069
- Cited by
- 174
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 15 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Simulation in Healthcare The Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Anatomy and Medical Technology
- Keywords
- standardized patients, patient role, undergraduate medical education, clinical skills teaching, patient-centered learning, patient satisfaction, patient as teacher
- MeSH terms
- Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Humans, Physician-Patient Relations, Role Playing, Teaching, Patient Simulation, Point-of-Care Systems
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