{
  "abstract": "Aim: To evaluate the effect of a structured sexual health training programme incorporating standardised patients (SPs) on health professions students’ sexual health communication competence, as assessed by SPs, in a Tanzanian setting. Design: Single-blind randomised controlled trial with parallel-group allocation. Setting: Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Participants: A total of 312 undergraduate medical and nursing students were enrolled at the university. Intervention: Structured sexual health training incorporating didactic teaching, small-group discussions, role-play, and SP-based practice sessions. Outcome measures: Sexual health communication competence was assessed using SP–rated checklists at baseline and at six-month follow-up. Results: Of 310 health profession students, 73.5% were in their final year. The mean age was 24.29 years (SD = 2.51). 22.6% were female, and 60.0% reported prior sexual health training. Baseline competence scores were similar across groups. At the six-month follow-up, competence improved in both groups, with greater gains in the treatment group. Mixed ANOVA showed a significant time effect (p < .001) and a time-by-group interaction (p = .002). Exploratory item-level analyses indicated higher scores in the treatment group across most sexual health communication competencies, particularly in rapport, empathy, and information-gathering, with no significant difference observed for clear and understandable language. Conclusion: Structured SP-based sexual health training incorporating SPs significantly improved sexual health communication competence during simulated consultations, particularly in patient-engagement domains. These findings support incorporating culturally adapted sexual health training into healthcare education and using SP assessments to evaluate communication competence in sensitive clinical contexts. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06428058. Registered 30 November 2023.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania",
    "University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America"
  ],
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      "name": "Gift G. Lukumay"
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      "name": "Deodatus Kakoko"
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    {
      "name": "B. R. Simon Rosser"
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    {
      "name": "Michael W. Ross"
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  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0360630",
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  "pmcid": null,
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  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
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      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
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  "subjects": [
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      "origin": "plos:neuroscience",
      "subfield": "neuroscience"
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  "title": "Impact of structured sexual health training incorporating standardised patients on health professions students’ sexual health communication competence: A single-blind randomised controlled trial in Tanzania",
  "title_text": "Impact of structured sexual health training incorporating standardised patients on health professions students’ sexual health communication competence: A single-blind randomised controlled trial in Tanzania",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:23Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/acngt63wc180g",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
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