Simulated-patient-based programs for teaching communication with adolescents: the link between guidelines and practice

Abstract

Adolescents frequently tend not to share personal issues with their health care providers, thus communication with the adolescent patient and frequently also with his or her parents requires unique skills on behalf of the physician. Guidelines for obtaining information regarding adolescents' risk behaviors and other psychosocial issues that have been developed, do not provide the necessary tools for optimal communication with adolescents. Communication skills are best obtained in role-play models where either colleagues or actors simulate the patients' roles. Simulation-based medical education offers a safe and "mistake forgiving" environment that enables consideration of the trainees' needs, without the use of real patients that is associated with traditional bedside teaching. Training programs to improve physicians' communication skills with adolescents have been developed at the Israel Center for Medical Simulation (MSR). Between 2003 and 2007, 470 physicians were trained at MSR in 40 one-day courses. These courses dealt with common adolescent health issues that require unique communication skills on behalf of the clinician, utilizing the simulated-patient-based programs. At each training day up to 12 physicians were exposed to 8 typical adolescent health related scenarios simulated by professional actors in rooms equipped with video facilities and one-way mirrors. Following the encounters with the simulated patients, the different scenarios were discussed in debriefing group sessions with experienced facilitators utilizing the encounters' video recording. Feedbacks from participants in the programs were excellent, emphasizing the need to include simulation-based programs in physicians' training curricula.