Integration of high-fidelity simulator in third-year paediatrics clerkship.

BACKGROUND: Simulation in medicine is a useful tool for assessing clinical competencies. The liaison committee on medical education expects students to have simulation experiences in the curriculum. The integration of simulators has been encouraged for clinical clerkships. The use of the human simulator in a safe environment should result in enhanced teamworking, communication and critical thinking skills. CONTEXT: During the academic year 2007-08, a formative activity using the simulator was implemented in the paediatrics clerkship. The objectives included exposing students to an emergent general paediatric medical scenario using the human simulator. It was imperative that students would adequately go through the critical thinking process. INNOVATION: The paediatrics clerkship has incorporated a formative activity using the high-fidelity simulator. A faculty member debriefed the students, and feedback was offered. A total of 124 students participated in the activity. Ninety-eight percent agreed that the use of the simulator in a scenario such as the one presented allowed for a better understanding of the clinical issues studied in the clerkship. More than 85 percent of the students recommended the integration of the simulator in other major clinical clerkships. Performance in the objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) at the end of the clerkship has improved after the implementation of this formative activity. IMPLICATIONS: The use of the high-fidelity simulator during the paediatrics clerkship has been identified as an excellent teaching tool. This formative activity has been deemed successful by the students, who feel that it serves as an extra tool to strengthen learned concepts and skills. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2011.