Experiences of simulated patients and candidates in the Membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners Simulated Surgery examination

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN IN THIS AREA • Simulated patients (SPs) experience stress related to their performance as SPs. • SPs' consistency is maximised by regular training for them and the examiners. • The likelihood of stress may be related to role type and SP acting style. WHAT THIS WORK ADDS • Some quantification of the problems surrounding SPs undertaking continuous effective role playing: (1) this is acceptable to them for a three-day period; (2) by the end of this period, a third of the SPs report stressful symptoms. • That almost all role players feel better able to make judgements of clinical competence as a result of the experience; none would change their general practitioner (GP). • That an SP-based test of consultation skills, perceived as challenging by its candidates, can be regarded by them as an appropriate, realistic and acceptable SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH • Investigation of translinguistic effects (differential first language) on candidate scores in SP-based examinations.