Peer review article: Standardized Patient Versus Role-Play Strategies: A Comparative Study Measuring Patient-Centered Care and Safety in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Alfes, C. M. (2015). Standardized Patient Versus Role-Play Strategies: A Comparative Study Measuring Patient-Centered Care and Safety in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing. Nursing Education Perspectives, 36(6), 403–405. http://doi.org/10.5480/14-1535

Small study (n=77) in psychiatric nursing, evaluating self-efficacy, knowledge and attitude. It shows there is no difference if the students follow a training with standardized patients (SP) first or with role-play first. The more important is the repetition of the training activities. The study advices to practice intensely role-play first and, at the end of the semester, to pratice some SPs activities because SPs activities are much more costly and time-consuming to organize.

Two definitions :

• standardized patients : in the training interviews, the patient is played by an trained actor.
• role-play : in the training interviews, the patient is played by a fellow student.

To link with :

• (Lane & Rollnick, 2007) a review of the literature comparing the two trainings. Concludes neither SP or role-play is superior to the other. More studies needed.

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Lane, C., & Rollnick, S. (2007). The use of simulated patients and role-play in communication skills training: A review of the literature to August 2005. Patient Education and Counseling, 67(1–2), 13–20. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2007.02.011