This activity is a simulated patient (SP) learning exercise designed to help healthcare students practice culturally competent clinical communication during a follow-up visit for hypertension management. Students interact with a standardized patient, Mr. Walker, a 50-year-old African American man diagnosed with hypertension who has stopped taking his prescribed medication due to cultural beliefs, lack of symptoms, and concerns about potential side effects. The exercise emphasizes the use of the ETHNIC mnemonic framework to explore the patient’s explanatory model of illness, acknowledge cultural practices (such as dietary changes, vinegar consumption, and prayer), and negotiate a collaborative treatment plan. The goal is to develop skills in culturally sensitive interviewing, patient-centered counseling, and shared decision-making in chronic disease management.
Target Learners
- Medical students
- Nursing students
- Physician assistant students
- Other health professional trainees learning patient interviewing or cultural competency
The activity is most appropriate for early clinical learners who are developing skills in patient communication, cultural awareness, and chronic disease counseling.
Equipment / Materials Needed
- Standardized patient (actor) portraying Mr. Walker
- Student participants (working as a group)
- Scenario instructions and case summary for students
- SP checklist for evaluation of student performance
- Timer or bell to signal the 13-minute warning and the end of the encounter
- Room arranged as a clinical exam or consultation setting
No clinical equipment (e.g., blood pressure cuff) is required because students are instructed not to take a blood pressure reading during the activity.
Estimated Time to Complete the Activity
- Simulation encounter: 15 minutes total
- Time warning: Bell at 13 minutes
- End of session: Bell at 15 minutes
(Additional time for instructor briefing or debriefing may be added depending on course design.)