Adapting standardized patient training to improve patients’ understanding and preparedness for health care encounters

To examine the impact of standardized patient (SP) training on SPs' real-life healthcare encounters and explore whether SP training elements can be adapted to increase actual patients’ understanding, communication and participation in a patient-centered care model. Data were collected from surveys and focus groups with standardized patients and a survey of primary care physicians. Findings were used to create an educational video with pre- and post-viewing surveys of patients’ understanding of engagement strategies and plans to use them in future encounters. SPs reported medical visits were more productive because of their ability to understand the visit’s framework; crediting their SP training. Patients reported the video will help in planning future medical visits by providing information that increases their understanding of their role in the care process. SPs’ understanding of the visit and its impact on knowledge, skills and affective domains can be transferred to patients in the form of specific strategies that enhance communication and patient participation during medical visits. A brief educational intervention for patients using SPs’ understanding of the medical visit may contribute to enhanced patient participation in future health care encounters and could increase patient engagement in patient-centered models of care. •Standardized patient (SP) training can enhance patient preparation for visits.•SP understanding of the health care encounter can be transferred to patients.•Elements include visit planning and improved communication and engagement.•This training helps patient view their role in the encounter as that of a partner.