Implementing the Safe and Effective Clinical Outcomes (SECO) simulation to prepare physician associate students for practice

The number of physician associates (PAs) training in the United Kingdom is rising dramatically, yet the approaches to teaching this new professional group are yet to be examined. We set out to determine if and how the ‘Safe and Effective Clinical Outcomes’ (SECO) simulation training could help this new group of students to develop skills around conducting a consultation in primary care.

Six clinics were designed and implemented over three academic years (2016–2018) in a clinical skills simulation centre in a university hospital. In total, 71 PA students took part and feedback was collected from students and simulated patients as part of routine evaluation processes. We found that the SECO simulation training offered PA students the opportunity to practise consultation skills and review their scope of practice in a safe environment. It helped students build confidence in their approach and gave them the opportunity to discuss what it means to be a ‘safe’ practitioner. The simulated patients were positive about the experience but remained unsure of what the PA role was even after the simulation training. Based on our experience, the SECO clinics have value for those training PA students.