Michael Michael1, Hamid Abboudi2, Jean Ker3, Mohammed Shamim Khan1, Prokar Dasgupta1, Kamran Ahmed4. 1. MRC Centre for Transplantation, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, King's Health Partners, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Urology, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom. 2. Department of Urology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, United Kingdom. 3. Clinical Skills Centre, Level 6, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom. 4. MRC Centre for Transplantation, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, King's Health Partners, King's College London, London, United Kingdom; Department of Urology, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: k.ahmed@imperial.ac.uk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education has evolved as a key training tool in high-risk industries such as aviation and the military. In parallel with these industries, the benefits of incorporating specialty-oriented simulation training within medical schools are vast. Adoption of simulators into medical school education programs has shown great promise and has the potential to revolutionize modern undergraduate education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An English literature search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and psychINFO databases to identify all randomized controlled studies pertaining to "technology-driven" simulators used in undergraduate medical education. A validity framework incorporating the "framework for technology enhanced learning" report by the Department of Health, United Kingdom, was used to evaluate the capabilities of each technology-driven simulator. Information was collected regarding the simulator type, characteristics, and brand name. Where possible, we extracted information from the studies on the simulators' performance with respect to validity status, reliability, feasibility, education impact, acceptability, and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: We identified 19 studies, analyzing simulators for medical students across a variety of procedure-based specialities including; cardiovascular (n = 2), endoscopy (n = 3), laparoscopic surgery (n = 8), vascular access (n = 2), ophthalmology (n = 1), obstetrics and gynecology (n = 1), anesthesia (n = 1), and pediatrics (n = 1). Incorporation of simulators has so far been on an institutional level; no national or international trends have yet emerged. CONCLUSIONS: Simulators are capable of providing a highly educational and realistic experience for the medical students within a variety of speciality-oriented teaching sessions. Further research is needed to establish how best to incorporate simulators into a more primary stage of medical education; preclinical and clinical undergraduate medicine.
BACKGROUND: Simulation-based education has evolved as a key training tool in high-risk industries such as aviation and the military. In parallel with these industries, the benefits of incorporating specialty-oriented simulation training within medical schools are vast. Adoption of simulators into medical school education programs has shown great promise and has the potential to revolutionize modern undergraduate education. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An English literature search was carried out using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and psychINFO databases to identify all randomized controlled studies pertaining to "technology-driven" simulators used in undergraduate medical education. A validity framework incorporating the "framework for technology enhanced learning" report by the Department of Health, United Kingdom, was used to evaluate the capabilities of each technology-driven simulator. Information was collected regarding the simulator type, characteristics, and brand name. Where possible, we extracted information from the studies on the simulators' performance with respect to validity status, reliability, feasibility, education impact, acceptability, and cost effectiveness. RESULTS: We identified 19 studies, analyzing simulators for medical students across a variety of procedure-based specialities including; cardiovascular (n = 2), endoscopy (n = 3), laparoscopic surgery (n = 8), vascular access (n = 2), ophthalmology (n = 1), obstetrics and gynecology (n = 1), anesthesia (n = 1), and pediatrics (n = 1). Incorporation of simulators has so far been on an institutional level; no national or international trends have yet emerged. CONCLUSIONS: Simulators are capable of providing a highly educational and realistic experience for the medical students within a variety of speciality-oriented teaching sessions. Further research is needed to establish how best to incorporate simulators into a more primary stage of medical education; preclinical and clinical undergraduate medicine.
Authors: K T Boden; A Rickmann; F N Fries; K Xanthopoulou; D Alnaggar; K Januschowski; B Seitz; B Käsmann-Kellner; J Schrecker Journal: Ophthalmologe Date: 2020-01 Impact factor: 1.059