Evaluating a Script-Based Approach for Simulating Patient-Doctor Interaction

Good communication between a patient and a doctor has long been accepted as essential for quality health care. “Good patient-clinician communication leads to better clinical outcomes and more satisfied patients. Poor communication leads to poor outcomes, dissatisfaction, and malpractice litigation [Coulehan and Block 2001].” How to educate medical students on these communication skills is the difficult issue for medical educators. To aid in teaching, practice, and formal evaluation of the patient-doctor interview, an ordered interview structure is commonly taught. The patient-doctor interview generally progresses through pre-defined stages, however, the conversation can diverge as new information is disclosed. Medical students are trained to follow this predictable path when taking a medical history (Table 1).