Improving physicians' HIV risk-assessment skills using announced and unannounced standardized patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate feasibility and to validate a rating scale for two educational programs that use standardized patient-instructors (SPIs) in the office setting to improve physicians' HIV risk communication skills.


METHODS
Pilot randomized trial of announced and unannounced SPIs.


METHODS
Twenty four primary care physicians in the Rochester, NY, area.


METHODS
The Rochester HIV Interview Rating Scale (RHIRS), HIV test ordering, physician satisfaction questionnaire.


RESULTS
Physicians found the intervention useful, and predicted a positive effect on their future HIV-related communication. HIV test ordering and RHIRS scores increased similarly in both intervention groups. Announced SPI visits were more convenient and preferred by physicians. Cost for each SPI visit was $75.


CONCLUSIONS
A brief office-based intervention using SPIs was feasible, well-accepted, convenient, and inexpensive. Announced SPIs were preferred to unannounced SPIs. Pilot results suggesting improvement in HIV-related communication should be confirmed in a larger randomized trial.
Epstein
R M
RM
Highland Primary Care Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 14620, USA. ronald_epstein@urmc.rochester.edu
Levenkron
J C
JC
Frarey
L
L
Thompson
J
J
Anderson
K
K
Franks
P
P
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000193:education; D008297:Male; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods