Korean J Clin Pharm.  2022 Mar;32(1):8-12. 10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.1.8.

Perception of student pharmacists on the utilization of standardized patients for patient counseling and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) in South Korea

• Park TE
• Kang M

• KMID: 2527745
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24304/kjcp.2022.32.1.8

Abstract

Background
Woosuk University College of Pharmacy delivered patient counseling education and administered Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) by utilizing standardized patients (SP) in Introductory Pharmacy Practice course. Surveys were conducted to examine students’ perception of SP and its impact on experiential education.
Methods
Students learned patient counseling by didactic lecture and role-play, followed by hands-on practice with SP. Then, patient counseling skills were assessed during OSCE by utilizing SP. The first survey was conducted immediately after OSCE, and the second survey after the completion of Pharmacy Practice Experiences (PPEs).
Results
According to the surveys, majority of the students agreed that utilizing SP was effective in building confidence for conducting patient counseling, reflecting on strengths and weaknesses of communication skills, and preparing for PPEs. It was particularly more effective than role-play in simulating patient counseling in a real pharmacy and reflecting on oneself. Also, OSCE was an appropriate method to assess patient counseling skills and utilizing SP for this purpose was well-suited.
Conclusion
Although it is very new in South Korea, other developed countries are already widely utilizing SP, and its importance and necessity have been proven by several studies. Therefore, Korean colleges of pharmacy should begin discussing how to utilize SP to improve students’ communications skills and implementing OSCE to evaluate those skills.

Keyword

Standardized patients; objective structured clinical examination; OSCE; patient counseling; pharmacy education