Experiences of Simulated Patients Involved in Difficult Conversations With Undergraduate and Postgraduate Health Professionals

Simulated patients (SPs) are trained to simulate real patient scenarios for health professionals' education and training. The value of including SPs in simulated scenarios, particularly in relation to difficult and complex conversations, has been studied in various contexts, with a focus on learner experiences and outcomes. What has not been as extensively explored is the impact of difficult and complex conversations on the SPs. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives, motivations, and experiences of SPs, particularly regarding difficult or complex conversations.