Comparing trained student peers versus paid actors as standardized patients for simulated patient prescription counseling.

Background: Simulation can be a useful tool for teaching and assessing clinical skills, but can also be costly and faculty-time intensive. It is defined as a technique to create an activity to portray a real experience for purpose of practicing or evaluating. Simulations can use standardized patients (SPs), which can be paid actors (PASPs), staff and faculty, manikins, volunteers, or students from higher level cohorts, also known as advanced class standardized patients (ACSPs).

A Mixed-Methods Exploration of the Effect of Disabling Backward Navigation on Calculations-Focused Computerized Examinations.

The aim of this mixed-methods study was to examine the effect of disabled backward navigation on computerized calculation examinations in multiple courses. Student performance on comprehensive pharmacy calculation examinations before and after implementation of disabled backward navigation were compared. Deidentified data from ExamSoft were used to determine median examination scores, passing rates, and time to completion for all three attempts given on comprehensive calculation exams held in a pharmacy calculations course (PharDSci 504) and in three applied patient care laboratory courses (Pharm 531, 541, and 551).