Using standardized patients to train and evaluate dietetics students

Faced with a dwindling number of clinical sites for training dietetics stud ents, we incorporated a standardized patient scenario of a 17-year-old preg nant woman into a nutrition counseling course. A young woman was hired to b e the patient and was trained extensively. Each student signed up for a 20- minute block of time to assess her and provide nutrition instruction, after which the standardized patient and course instructor provided individualiz ed feedback to each student. Students then completed a brief questionnaire related to the standardized patient session. Overall, student response to t he standardized patient session was positive, and students believed standar dized patients should be included formally in undergraduate training. The s tudents noted that the standardized patient session allowed them to be trai ned and evaluated objectively. Because of their ease in building rapport wi th the standardized patient, students reported that they were able to provi de more in-depth education. They also appreciated the immediate and detaile d performance review provided by the standardized patient and the instructo r. We conclude that standardized patient sessions provide a great service t o dietetics students, and plans to develop another standardized patient sce nario that students can follow up throughout the continuum of care are unde rway.