title: Experiences of simulated patients and candidates in the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Simulated Surgery examination.
abstract: WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN IN THIS AREA • Simulated patients (SPs) experience stress related to their performance as SPs. • SPs' consistency is maximised by regular training for them and the examiners. • The likelihood of stress may be related to role type and SP acting style. WHAT THIS WORK ADDS • Some quantification of the problems surrounding SPs undertaking continuous effective role playing: (1) this is acceptable to them for a three-day period; (2) by the end of this period, a third of the SPs report stressful symptoms. • That almost all role players feel better able to make judgements of clinical competence as a result of the experience; none would change their general practitioner (GP). • That an SP-based test of consultation skills, perceived as challenging by its candidates, can be regarded by them as an appropriate, realistic and acceptable SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH • Investigation of translinguistic effects (differential first language) on candidate scores in SP-based examinations.
authors.forename: Mei Ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Denney
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wakeford
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hawthorne
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bewick
keywords: MRCGP; communication skills; consultation skills; examination; general practice; general practitioners; registrars; simulated patients