How do examiners and examinees think about role-playing of standardized patients in an OSCE setting?
OBJECTIVE
The use of standardized patients in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations in the assessment of psychiatric residents has increased in recent years. The aim of this study is to investigate the experience of psychiatry residents and examiners with standardized patients in Iran.


METHODS
Final-year residents in psychiatry participated in this study. Experienced examiners were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the ability of standardized patients to realistically portray psychiatric patients.


RESULTS
Standardized patients can convincingly portray psychiatric disorders and act according to the requested complex scenarios.


CONCLUSIONS
According to these findings, the authors recommend the use of standardized patients in OSCEs for psychiatric board certification exams.
Sadeghi
Majid
M
Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences/University of Tehran, Roozbeh Hospital, South Tehran 13334, Iran. sadeghmj@sina.tums.ac.ir
Taghva
Arsia
A
Mirsepassi
Gholamreza
G
Hassanzadeh
Mehdi
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D016544:Patient Simulation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012381:Role Playing; D013044:Specialty Boards