title: An analysis of standardised patient checklist errors and their effect on student scores.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The frequency and nature of standardised patient (SP) recording errors during clinical performance examinations (CPX) have an effect on case scores and ultimately on pass/fail decisions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of SP recording errors on case scores.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standardised patients completed checklists immediately after each encounter. To determine checklist accuracy, multiple reviewers developed a checklist key for each student encounter studied. The total errors, the net errors, the errors of commission and omission and error rates by competency skill were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of errors in history taking was greater than in physical examination, and the majority of errors were made in the students' favour. Summing the errors of commission and omission decreased the effect of total errors on student scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of SP recording accuracy are achievable. When errors occur, the net effect is usually in the students' favour.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Skills Education Office, School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, California 92350,USA. nheine@som.llu.edu
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heine
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Garman
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: Rebekah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartos
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000592:standards*