A standardized patient is a person trained to portray a patient consistently during a learning or assessment activity. They can respond to learners’ questions and actions, portray symptoms or emotions, and provide feedback from the patient’s perspective.

Peer role play can be a useful way to practice introductions, patient education, interview questions, and the flow of a clinical encounter in the skills lab. Give students clear roles, a short case to follow, and specific behaviors to observe so the exercise is effective.

Consider a standardized patient when learners need to respond to an unfamiliar person, navigate a challenging conversation, or receive feedback from someone trained to portray the patient’s experience. In the skills lab peer to peer role play is effective to gaining empathy, learning basic communication skills, and adding critical thinking components to skills.

Yes. Peer role play can give students frequent practice before a more developed encounter with a standardized patient. For example, students might rehearse explaining a procedure with a peer, then perform the procedure and respond to a trained patient in a later simulation. Both methods have a place when each activity has a clear learning goal.