title: The Use of Standardized Patients to Evaluate Interpersonal and Communication Skills of Anesthesiology Residents: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was conducted to explore the feasibility and validity of using standardized patients (SPs) in assessing the interpersonal and communication skills (ICS) of anesthesiology residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the ICS of anesthesiology residents using SPs. Each resident participated in two staged encounters and was graded by the SPs using a modified SEGUE framework. Each encounter was videotaped and reviewed independently by two senior faculty members using the same checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICS scores improved with advancement of training. This was confirmed by both SP and faculty (CA-1, 47.8 ± 9.8 and CA-3, 64.8 ± 1.9, P=0.022) assessments. There was strong inter-faculty agreement for individual residents (r=0.95, P<0.001). In-training exam (ITE) scores appeared to correlate with the faculty ICS score (r=0.61, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardized patient encounters using a modified SEGUE framework may be a useful tool to assess ICS among anesthesiology residents. Resident performance improves even in the absence of interventions to teach ICS. The improvement appears to correlate with increasing experience and knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology University of Toledo College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Casabianca
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology University of Toledo College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Papadimos
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology University of Toledo College of Medicine.
authors.forename: Shashi B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Bhatt