Integrating Simulated Patients in TBL: a Strategy for Success in Medical Education

Abstract

Background: Successful use of team-based learning (TBL) and simulated patients (SP) in medical schools is growing. We hypothesized that integrating SPs into TBL would enhance the traditional TBL. Activity: From 2016 to 2018, we taught fourth-year medical students through an SP-TBL hybrid, utilizing an integrated SP interview. A 9-item evaluation was analyzed (n = 114). Results and Discussion: Students expressed favorable attitudes toward the SP-TBL hybrid with Likert-scale items (mean 4.26/5). Qualitatively, four positive themes emerged: (1) practice; (2) engagement; (3) SP use; and (4) feedback. Integrating SPs into TBL avoids disadvantages with both traditional TBL and OSCEs. Practice, engagement, and immediate feedback are advantages over traditional TBL.