Simulated Patient Programme
Would you help us to train tomorrow’s doctors?
The University of Glasgow Undergraduate Medical School uses both members of the public (volunteer patients) and professional actors to train Medical Students in communication and clinical examination skills.
Practical experience in communication and clinical examination is absolutely essential to allow Medical Students to gain competence. It also helps them to develop caring and compassionate attitudes; learning how to empathise and identify patient ideas, concerns and expectations.
For more information click on the links below.
Volunteer Patients
VOLUNTEER PATIENTS
We are actively recruiting enthusiastic, adult, volunteer patients of all ages and from all walks of life.
Please watch our Volunteer Patient Video
Please read our Volunteer Patient Charter
What is a volunteer patient?
A volunteer patient is a member of the public who helps with the teaching and training of medical students, enabling them to learn and develop communication and clinical examination skills. Volunteer patient can choose to participate in either communication skills training, clinical examination teaching, or both.
There are no needles or medicines, and volunteers always work alongside a qualified medical professional who supervises the students (the tutor).
How do volunteer patients help to teach communication skills?
A volunteer patient talks to a medical student in a mock consultation called a role play. This role play is supervised by a medically qualified tutor and observed by a group of students.
For a role-play, the volunteer patient is given a short script containing information about a medical condition - for example a sore back or a headache – and the student then asks questions about this medical condition and its effect on day to day life.
After the consultation has finished, feedback is provided to the student by the tutor, the group and the volunteer patient. Feedback involves discussing the consultation with the student and identifying positive aspects of the interaction, as well as things which could have been improved upon or done in a different way.
Click on the link for an example of a role play scenario.
How do volunteer patients help to teach clinical examination skills?
A volunteer patient may also choose to be involved in helping medical students learn the techniques involved in basic, non-invasive examinations of the main body systems, including:
Cardiovascular (heart)
Respiratory (lungs)
Gastrointestinal (abdomen)
Neurological (nerves and muscles)
Musculoskeletal (joints, limbs, back)
A student practises examination skills on the volunteer patient, under the supervision of a medically qualified tutor. A small group of students also observe and feedback from the tutor, the volunteer patient and the other students is provided at the end. Feedback in this situation focusses on the way in which the examination was conducted, including both the technical skills and the overall interaction with the volunteer patient.
Is any knowledge or experience necessary to become a volunteer patient?
No prior knowledge or experience is required.
Does a volunteer patient need need to have a medical problem?
A volunteer patient does not need to have any underlying medical conditions. The role play scenarios mean a volunteer is given a list of symptoms to discuss with the medical student. In the clinical examination scenarios the focus is on examination techniques and interactions, rather than identifying a specific diagnosis.
If a volunteer patient does have a medical condition there is no requirement to disclose this and we do not store any clinical data on our volunteer patients.
Is training provided?
There is a mandatory training session for new volunteer patients.
After completing training, a new volunteer patient will ‘shadow’ an experienced volunteer patient until confident to work independently.
We also ask all volunteer patients to complete equality and diversity training. This is done online.
What are the benefits of being involved?
Volunteer Patients make a really important contribution to the training of tomorrow’s doctors. Our volunteers enjoy the interaction in the classroom, and find it an interesting experience. They also learn new skills, such as how to give feedback and skills involved in role plays.
Is there any payment?
Travel expenses are provided, along with tea, coffee and a lunch in the James McCune Smith Learning Hub Cafe directly across University Avenue from the Medical School. Payment is by bank transfer (processed by the University Finance Office) or by gift voucher (handed directly to the Volunteer on the day).
How much time is involved?
Most volunteers participate in 4-6 classes (3hour sessions) a year. The number of times a volunteer takes part depends on personal availability and on what is being taught in the Medical School.
Where are the teaching sessions based?
The teaching takes place on campus, usually at the Wolfson Medical School Building on University Avenue.
Can volunteer patients opt-out of any class?
A volunteer patient is under no obligation to attend any class, and can opt-out without explanation. You will never be expected to do something about which you feel uncomfortable.
Can I get medical advice from the tutor or student?
No: these sessions are for teaching and training purposes only. If a volunteer patient had a health concern or question they would be directed back to their own GP.
How is volunteer patient data stored?
With a volunteer patient’s consent, the medical school would store basic demographic details and contact details. There would also be a record of sessions in which the volunteer patient had participated. A volunteer patient can request that this information is deleted at any point.
Interested?
Please complete the application form here and the Simulated Patient Team will get back to you soon.
For any questions please email: med-sch-simulatedpatients@glasgow.ac.uk
Simulated Patients - Professional Actors
Simulated Patients - Professional Actors
The University of Glasgow Undergraduate Medical School works with professional actors to deliver more challenging communication skills training for Year 3 and above. The actors can also help with clinical examination teaching and participate in the Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCES) for Years 2-5.
Communication Skills Teaching
Actors are involved in specific communication skills teaching sessions in Year 3 of the undergraduate curriculum. The actor plays the part of a patient or a relative and is interviewed by a student. A medically qualified tutor and small group of students observe. The scenarios cover challenging areas of communication: for example breaking bad news, dealing with a complaint or ethical dilemmas. Once the role play has been completed, the tutor, actor and students provide constructive feedback.
Teaching sessions are usually delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays (am and pm) over the academic session (September until January) and are normally held at the Wolfson Medical School Building (University Avenue). Sessions may be delivered on different days of the week depending on timetabling by central medical school.
Clinical Examination Teaching
Actors may also choose to be involved in helping medical students learn the techniques involved in basic, non-invasive examinations of the main body systems, including:
Cardiovascular (heart)
Respiratory (lungs)
Gastrointestinal (abdomen)
Neurological (nerves and muscles)
Musculoskeletal (joints, limbs, back)
A student practises examination skills on the actor, under the supervision of a medically qualified tutor. A small group of students observe and feedback from the tutor, the actor and the observing students is provided at the end.
Actors can choose to participate in the clinical examinations with which they feel comfortable.
OSCES
Undergraduate Medical Students participate in clinical assessments (known as OSCEs) several times throughout their MBChB studies (year 2-5). Students work their way round a number of ‘stations’. Each station involves a different challenge: for example, a communication scenario and/or a clinical examination scenario. Actors are used in these situations to ensure consistency of delivery.
Prior to the OSCES, actors would be obliged to attend mandatory briefing sessions organised by the Clinical Examination Leads. OSCEs take place on the main University campus and at hospital sites around Glasgow.
Payment
Payment rates are as follows:
Reserve fee (0-2 hours) - £50.00
Half day teaching session - £100.00
Full day OSCE - £200.00
Reserve Simulated Patients are required to attend a teaching or examinations session to fill any unexpected absence. If required, the Reserve is paid the session rate, and if not, is free to leave once the session is underway and is paid the Reserve rate.
The Wolfson Medical School Building is deemed the Simulated Patient’s place of work. Reasonable travel costs are reimbursed to hospital sites only. Travel expenses can be claimed from your home address or the Wolfson Medical School Building (whichever is geographically closest) to the allocated hospital either by public transport (not taxi) or if travelling by car at a rate of 0.45p per mile.
Simulated Patients are engaged by the University as Suppliers and are responsible for submitting invoices for work undertaken. After a booking has taken place, the University Finance Unit will email Purchase Order details direct to individuals, to enable submission of your invoice. A template invoice is detailed below:
Interested?
To register your interest as a Simulated Patient, please submit a CV/Spotlight to the School’s Simulated Patient Co-ordinator (med-sch-simulatedpatients@glasgow.ac.uk) along with details of a referee who can comment on your role playing experience.
The team will be in touch to discuss your application and you will be asked to complete Supplier and GDPR forms. We also require any new simulated patients to undertake an online equality and diversity module and attend a training session.