Cough & Dyspnea are among common problems in ambulatory practice that have variety of aetiologies. Teaching medical students for this topic with real patients is hard to give them uniformity of learning experience so the session using standardised patients was introduced.
 

Four simulated patients with the chief complaints of cough and dyspnea but different aetiologies that could be easily diagnosed by careful history and general assessment were prepared (asthma, COPD, pneumonia and tuberculosis). The assessment scores for student skills were constructed for each simulated patient.

A week after lecture of related topic, all 5th-clinical year medical students were assigns to attend simulated session. The students would have to see each patients for 2 sessions, the first 15 minutes session for interviewing and examining patients, assessment and sending investigations. The next session (8 minutes) they would see the same patient with investigation they required and they have to make diagnosis and treatment according to information they got. There were short period of discussion after completion of simulated session for question and answer.

The assessment was based on the student’s medical records during their practice. The satisfaction of students were also assessed.