title: Using standardized patients in continuing medical education courses on proper prescribing of controlled substances.
abstract: Controlled prescription drug (CPD) abuse is an increasing threat to patient safety and health care providers (HCPs) are not adequately prepared nor do they routinely employ proper screening techniques. Using standardized patients (SPs) as an instructional strategy, the trained physicians on proper prescribing practices and SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) in a continuing medical education (CME) course. The authors compared two physician cohorts receiving standard CME course (control) versus CME plus SP practice. They measured knowledge and attitudes in all participants and skills and perceived competence in the SP group only. Knowledge and attitudes improved significantly for both groups. Screening behaviors for CPD use also improved. Participants overestimated their performance but increased their use of SBIRT with practice. The SP comfort levels with physician's competence improved after 2 practice sessions. Standardized patients can be an effective teaching tool in CME courses. Impact on knowledge or attitudes did not increase significantly over controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Center for Professional Health, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-4300, USA.
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Swiggart
authors.forename: Marine V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Ghulyan
authors.forename: Charlene M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Dewey
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs