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
- 1Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, United Nations Rd, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- 2University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
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.
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BibTeX
@article{lukumay2026impact,
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}},
author = {Gift G. Lukumay and Deodatus Kakoko and B. R. Simon Rosser and Michael W. Ross},
journal = {PLOS One},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0360630},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360630},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - 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
AU - Gift G. Lukumay
AU - Deodatus Kakoko
AU - B. R. Simon Rosser
AU - Michael W. Ross
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - PLOS One
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0360630
UR - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0360630
AB - 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.
SN - 1932-6203
ER -