Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40704693›Full record

ArticleJournal of the American College of Surgeons2025

The Digital Standardized Patient: An Artificial Intelligence Coach for Cultural Dexterity in Surgical Care.

Arya S Rao, Richard S Lee, Ethan Bott, Sharon Jiang, Qiao Jiao, Brittany M Dacier, Adil Haider, Susan Farrell, Gezzer Ortega, Marc D Succi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Arya S RaoFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Richard S LeeFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Ethan BottFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Sharon JiangFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Qiao JiaoFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Brittany M DacierDepartment of Surgery, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (Dacier; Ortega).
Adil HaiderAga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan (Haider).
Susan FarrellFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Gezzer OrtegaFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).
Marc D SucciFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Rao, Lee, Bott, Jiang, Jiao, Farrell, Ortega, Succi).

Funding

Medical Scientist Training ProgramT32GM144273 · NIGMS · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · PI David Shumway Jones, Jacqueline A. Lees · 2022 to 2026
$14.7M
NIGMS NIH HHS T32 GM144273
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCultural dexterity, defined as the ability to effectively respond to diverse patient backgrounds, is crucial for equitable surgical care. Standardized patient (SP) encounters are proven tools for cultivating these skills but are resource-intensive and limited in scope. Large language models (LLMs) offer a scalable solution. This study evaluates the feasibility and perceived effectiveness of an LLM-based SP platform (SP-LLM) for cultural dexterity training among general surgery residents. STUDY

designIn this 2-week pilot cohort study, 16 general surgery residents at a single academic center interacted with a novel SP-LLM platform simulating 2 scenarios from the Provider Awareness and Cultural Dexterity Toolkit for Surgeons curriculum. Residents engaged with the SP-LLM via both text and voice to navigate complex, culturally sensitive patient encounters. Postinteraction surveys assessed perceptions of realism, emotional depth, cultural relevance, and educational utility using Likert scales and qualitative responses.

resultsResidents found the SP-LLM to be clinically accurate (mean score 4.27) and its portrayals realistic (4.00). The platform supported culturally sensitive communication (mean score 3.87) and helped residents address patient emotions (3.87). Text-based interactions were valued for encouraging reflection (mean score 4.00), whereas voice interactions received more mixed feedback (3.13). Participants reported strong utility for discussing pain management (mean score 4.40) and some effectiveness in addressing medical mistrust (3.40). Qualitative feedback emphasized a need for more nuanced patient histories and improved voice realism.

conclusionsThis pilot study demonstrates the promise of SP-LLMs as scalable tools for advancing cultural dexterity training in surgical education and beyond. Residents found the platform clinically relevant and effective for practicing culturally sensitive communication. With continued development, SP-LLMs have the potential to broaden access to high-quality, scenario-based training across medical specialties and institutions.

Indexed as

Artificial IntelligenceCultural CompetencyGeneral SurgeryInternship and ResidencyPatient SimulationAdultEducation, Medical, GraduateFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMalePhysician-Patient RelationsPilot Projects

Identifiers

PMID40704693
PMCPMC13198390

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.