Learning communication skills with simulated patients
The experience gained since twenty years at the Interdisciplinary Division for Adolescent Health of the Lausanne university hospital shows that it is possible to train young adolescents (14-18 years of age) to simulate medical situations. They are trained to act as real patients suffering from various conditions (such as fatigue, sleep problems, eating disorder, functional disorder, backache, substance misuse, stomachache, dysmenorrhea, etc.). They then participate in training sessions focusing on communication skills, history taking and differential diagnosis. Medical students, residents and in practice physicians have benefited from such sessions with much enthusiasm.
These videos can be used to teach communication skills with your trainees.
The first recording shows an encounter of moderate quality; the second video illustrates the feedback given by the simulated patient about this first interview. The third video displays a “state of the art” interview.
