Implementation of an on-site simulation programme during COVID-19 and the assessment of its impact on medical students' competence

Background COVID-19 has greatly impacted medical students' clinical education. This study evaluates the usefulness of a rapidly implemented on-site simulation programme deployed to supplement our disrupted curriculum. Methods Students on surgical rotations received 4-hour tutor-led simulated patient sessions (involving mannikins with remote audio-visual observation) respecting hospital and public health protocols. Attitudes were questionnaire-assessed before and after. Independent, blinded, nonacademic clinicians scored students' clinical competencies by observing real patient interactions using the surgical ward assessment tool in a representative sample versus those completing same duration medicine clinical rotations without simulation (Mann-Whitney U testing, p < 0.05 denoting significance) with all students receiving the same surgical e-learning resources and didactic teaching. Results A total of 220 students underwent simulation training, comprising 96 hours of scheduled direct teaching. Prior to commencement, 15 students (7% of 191 completing the survey) admitted anxiety, mainly due to clinical inexperience, with only two (1%) anxious re on-site spreading/contracting of COVID-19. A total of 66 students (30%, 38 females and 29 graduate entrants) underwent formal competency assessment by clinicians from ten specialties at two clinical sites. Those who received simulation training (n = 35) were judged significantly better at history taking (p = 0.004) and test ordering (p = 0.01) but not clinical examination, patient drug chart assessment, or differential diagnosis formulation. Of 75 students providing subsequent feedback, 88% stated simulation beneficial (notably for history taking and physical examination skills in 63%) with 83% advocating for more. Conclusion Our rapidly implemented simulation programme for undergraduate medical students helped mitigate pandemic restrictions, enabling improved competence despite necessarily reduced clinical activity encouraging further development.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the usefulness of a rapidly implemented on-site simulation program for medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that students who received simulation training performed better in history taking and test ordering. Most students found the simulation beneficial and advocated for more.