title: Use of simulated patients for a communication skills exercise.
abstract: This article describes a training programme for people simulating the role of a patient with aphasia. Using the skills they had learned, the simulated patients (SPs) eventually took part in a pilot communication skills exercise, in which 86 nursing students participated and which was evaluated using a semi-structured questionnaire. The students reported that the SPs' portrayal of a patient with aphasia was realistic and appreciated being given the opportunity to rehearse safely in a simulated healthcare setting. The evaluation indicates that using a structured programme to train SPs to portray patients who have a communication difficulty, such as aphasia, is beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Skills Centre, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. j.ramsay@dundee.ac.uk
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: Jean Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ker
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011361:Professional Competence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom