Purpose. To compare two methods of teaching physical assessment, a traditio
nal faculty-taught course and a course with components taught by specially
trained standardized patients (SPs), with respect to students' performances
and costs.
Method. Medical students in their second year and without preliminary cours
e work in physical assessment were taught by faculty-led small groups. Stud
ents in their first year were taught by faculty-led lecture-demonstrations
and exercises led by physical examination teaching associates (PETAs). Both
groups of students were tested with a performance-based examination that i
nvolved six identical stations. The costs of both courses were calculated u
sing faculty and SP salaries.
Results. There was no difference in students' performances on two of the st
ations, those involving the eye and abdominal examinations. The class that
had been taught by PETAs, however, demonstrated I statistically significant
performance advantage on the remaining four stations. The cost saving from
using the PETAs was conservatively estimated at $24,155.
Conclusion. Specially trained SPs can effectively teach the normal physical
examination to medical students and are a less expensive alternative to tr
aditional faculty small-group teaching methods.