Improving the Standardized Patient Experience

Background: As the facilitator of the standardized patient rotation at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (now Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine [KSUCPM]) for the past 4 years, I have felt that there is underused time in the program. Therefore, I sought the views of podiatric medical students at KSUCPM who have completed the standardized patient rotation to see how they felt their time in the course was used and whether they felt that the course was useful to them in terms of advancing their podiatric medical education. Methods: A survey was administered to 105 third-year podiatric medical students. These students had already completed the standardized patient rotation, which at KSUCPM is in the second year. Results: Seventy-seven students completed the survey. Most of these students felt that there was improperly used time in the course, and many recommended ways of improving the course organization. Conclusions: The students answered positively that the standardized patient rotation was important in terms of improving interviewing skills and worthwhile for future professional development. The students agreed that there likely was underused time in the course and even suggested ways in which they would make the course run more efficiently. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 477-484, 2012)