Abstract

Objective: To evaluate communication skills during the clinical interview, in the context of Clinical Simulation (CS) with Simulated Patient (SP) and Role Playing (RP). Material and Method: Application research using sequential explanatory mixed method in the context of an optional innovation course at the Department of Nursing of the University of Atacama (Chile). The first stage was quantitative correlational, applying an abbreviated version of the Master Interview Rating Scale (MIRS) to ten nursing students. Each one conducted three clinical interviews using CS methodology with SP, and three with RP. For the correlational hypothesis, Student’s t was calculated. The second stage was qualitative phenomenological, reaching saturation with two focus groups. The data was analyzed line by line, with emergent categorization, and with triangulation of researchers and data. Results: A Student’s t of 12,161 was obtained, accepting the hypothesis: “In the CS with SP students demonstrate a better application of communication skills”. 23 codes and 3 central categories that describe the importance of the CS in the application of communication skills were identified. Conclusions: The application of communication skills during the clinical interview was positively evaluated from the quantitative and qualitative dimensions; obtaining scores that show a high percentage of compliance, and a positive perceptual evaluation among participants.