1)The purpose of this study was to evaluate a role–playing class for informed consent with fifth–year students playing the role of physicians and first–year students playing the role of patients.
2)The first–year students were competent as simulated patients for the informed consent role–playing and were a worthy educational human resource.
3)This role–playing was effective for helping both first–year and fifth–year students understand informed consent and the mentality of patients and to motivate students to study informed consent. This joint class also allowed fifth–year students to review their progress over time and gave first–year students a chance to meet role models.