Training Materials

Standardized patients (SPs) have a critical role in this program; SPs are responsible for assessing how the trainee performs according to the uncertainty communication checklist (UCC) and providing them with feedback. The following training materials should be used to ensure that SPs are properly trained so that they rate trainees in a consistent manner. Two to four weeks prior to curriculum implementation, a session should be set up to facilitate standardized training of the SPs. Standardized training ensures that SPs will improve the consistency of checklist application. During the training session, we suggest introducing the curriculum and explaining the context of diagnostic uncertainty, reviewing the selected simulation cases, reviewing the Uncertainty Communication Checklist (UCC) in detail, and then launching into the training videos to provide practice and examples. Do not share the numeric minimum passing standard with the SPs, so that they can be objective in their rating of the resident performance.

Training Videos

There are a total of eight training videos, including three simulation videos, three videos that annotate how the simulated encounters should be scored, and two feedback exemplar videos. We suggest showing the simulation videos and the annotated scoring video back-to-back while making sure to pause to answer SP questions throughout the session. The feedback videos show how SPs can approach providing individualized feedback to the residents based on their specific encounter.

SP Simulation Instructions

Case by case SP instructions for performing simulation cases (note – these go along with the Resident Simulation Instructions for the simulation cases). At the end of the training session, let each SP know which cases they will be responsible for learning and portraying during the simulated encounters. We suggest providing copies of each scenario, and reviewing the assigned cases during the training session so that they have the opportunity to ask questions.