A method for training simulated patients.

The purpose of the study on which this article was based was to examine the effectiveness of training simulated patients with self-instructional materials. A six-hour program consisting of eight videotapes and 10 sets of written materials was administered to 54 trainees. Pretest and posttest score comparisons revealed an increase in knowledge about simulation. Most of the trainees (91 percent) stated that the simulation training program increased their competencies in portraying patients. Most important, simulators with the self-instructional training received higher ratings from trainers on their ability to evaluate students than did simulators in the control group.