Measuring what really happens: Using standardised patients to evaluate health services

How can we understand what really happens during real-world healthcare delivery? Standardised patient methods, sometimes known as simulated patient or mystery shopper approaches, provide a powerful way to evaluate healthcare services from the perspective of a service user while minimising observer effects.

In this interactive online session, you will discover how standardised patient methodology can provide valuable insights into healthcare delivery and, drawing on international examples and practical experience from pharmacy and health services research, explore key considerations for designing, implementing and reporting standardised patient evaluations.

Who is the session for?

This introductory session is suitable for healthcare professionals, researchers, evaluators and educators interested in evaluating and improving healthcare services. No previous experience of standardised patient methodology is required.

What will you learn?

The session will explore the purpose, strengths and limitations of standardised patient methodology and when it can be used to evaluate healthcare services. Through practical activities, real-world examples and small group discussions, you will gain an understanding of key ethical, regulatory and operational considerations, alongside practical considerations for designing studies and recruiting, training and supporting standardised patients.

Who will deliver the session?

The session will be delivered by Dr Jack Collins and Associate Professor Carl Schneider from The University of Sydney.

Jack is a Senior Lecturer and practising pharmacist with expertise in standardised patient methodology and health services and pharmacy practice research.

Carl is an internationally recognised expert in standardised patient methodology, with research spanning medication safety, health services evaluation, implementation science and quality use of medicines.

Booking information

Joining instructions will be provided in advance once you have registered. On completion of the session, you will receive a certificate of completion.
If you have any accessibility or support requirements, please let us know when booking so that we can support your participation.

For any queries about the session please contact Axel Kaehne on [email protected].