Standardized Patient Education Focused on Equity Deserving Groups: Ten Tips for Educators and Programs-A Qualitative Study

Urmi T Sheth; Nicole A Last; Amy C Keuhl; Arden R K Azim; Ruth P Chen; Jasdeep Dhir; Patricia R Farrugia; Aaron G Geekie-Sousa; Jeffrey M McCarthy; X Catherine Tong; Sandra D Monteiro; Matthew G Sibbald

doi:10.1097/SIH.0000000000000836

Standardized Patient Education Focused on Equity Deserving Groups: Ten Tips for Educators and Programs-A Qualitative Study

Simul Healthc. 2025 Jun 1;20(3):144-149. doi: 10.1097/SIH.0000000000000836. Epub 2024 Nov 13.

Authors

Urmi T Sheth¹, Nicole A Last, Amy C Keuhl, Arden R K Azim, Ruth P Chen, Jasdeep Dhir, Patricia R Farrugia, Aaron G Geekie-Sousa, Jeffrey M McCarthy, X Catherine Tong, Sandra D Monteiro, Matthew G Sibbald

Affiliation

¹ From the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine (U.T.S., M.G.S.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Centre for Simulation-Based Learning (N.A.L.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; McMaster Education Research, Innovation and Theory (MERIT) Program (A.C.K.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; School of Nursing (R.P.C.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; School of Rehabilitation Science (J.D.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Department of Surgery (P.R.F.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Midwifery Graduate Program (A.G.G.-S.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Division of Palliative Care (J.M.M.), Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Department of Family Medicine (X.C.T.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; and Department of Medicine (A.R.K.A., S.D.M.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

PMID: 40445070
DOI: 10.1097/SIH.0000000000000836

Abstract

Introduction: Health professions training programs must train future healthcare providers to meet the needs of equity-deserving patient populations. Standardized patient (SP) programs are one mechanism by which this training can occur. Our aim was to develop a set of recommendations for SP programs and educators around planning, organizing, and delivering SP-based education involving equity-deserving groups.

Methods: We undertook a qualitative analysis of interview transcripts of SPs, educators, and trainers involved in SP work with equity-deserving groups. Subsequently, we conducted a three-stage modified Delphi process to generate recommendations.

Results: We derived 10 tips to help stakeholders improve SP-based education involving equity-deserving groups. The underlying themes included collaborative involvement, including co-creation and co-delivery of content with members of equity-deserving groups, as well as consistent prioritization of the needs of SPs throughout the process.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest ways in which SP programs and educators can better train future healthcare providers to meet the needs of equity-deserving patient populations.

Keywords: Equity; diversity; equity-deserving groups; healthcare education; human simulation; inclusion; psychological safety; qualitative; standardized patient.

MeSH terms

Delphi Technique
Health Personnel* / education
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Patient Education as Topic* / organization & administration
Patient Education as Topic* / standards
Patient Simulation*
Qualitative Research