A study on the usefulness of high fidelity patient simulation in undergraduate medical education

• Main Authors: Bikramjit Pal, M. V. Kumar, Htoo Htoo Kyaw Soe, Sudipta Pal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National University of Singapore 2018-01-01
• Series: The Asia Pacific Scholar
• Subjects: High fidelity simulation; Simulation in medical education
• Online Access: http://theasiapacificscholar.org/a-study-on-the-usefulness-of-high-fidelity-patient-simulation-in-undergraduate-medical-education/

Introduction: Simulation is the imitation of the operation of a real-world process or system over time. Innovative simulation training solutions are now being used to train medical professionals in an attempt to reduce the number of safety concerns that have adverse effects on the patients. Objectives: (a) To determine its usefulness as a teaching or learning tool for management of surgical emergencies, both in the short term and medium term by students’ perception. (b) To plan future teaching methodology regarding hi-fidelity simulation based on the study outcomes and re-assessment of the current training modules. Methods: Quasi-experimental time series design with pretest-posttest interventional study. Quantitative data was analysed in terms of Mean, Standard Deviation and standard error of Mean. Statistical tests of significance like Repeated Measure of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for comparisons. P value < 0.001 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The students opined that the simulated sessions on high fidelity simulators had encouraged their active participation which was appropriate to their current level of learning. It helped them to think fast and the training sessions resembled a real life situation. The study showed that learning had progressively improved with each session of simulation with corresponding decrease in stress. Conclusion: Implementation of high fidelity simulation based learning in our Institute had been perceived favourably by a large number of students in enhancing their knowledge over time in management of trauma and surgical emergencies.