Volunteer simulated patients: what does motivate them and what are their needs? Nelerdir?

Abstract

Background and aims: Revealing the motivational drives and psychological needs of voluntarysimulated patients, especially in institutions were resources are deficient, could help to promote asustainable reserve without a need for remuneration. We aimed to explore the reasons why simulatedpatients participate in simulated education voluntarily using the concept of Basic Human NeedsTheory.Material and methods: We chose a qualitative method, in which in-depthinterviews were performed with nine simulated patients. Interviews wererecorded and analyzed according to the principles of content analysis.We suggest Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a conceptual framework forunderstanding what makes simulated patients contribute voluntarily inmedical education.Results: We identified that simulated patients are anxious about genitalexamination, enjoy being part of a group, feel responsible for educatingmedical students, appreciate to be needed and accepted and worry aboutgood performance.Conclusions: We present findings from a theory-driven evaluation of volunteer simulated patients’needs. The question how to satisfy the needs of volunteer simulated patients may be answered byapplying the basic human needs model which offers a means for understanding these encounters interms of global individual needs. To make the simulated patient feel safe, needed and valued couldpossibly result in happiness and enhanced motivation and provide sustainability of participation.