Studies Database

Gordon JA, Wilkerson WM, Shaffer DW, Armstrong EG. "Practicing" medicine without risk: students' and educators' responses to high-fidelity patient simulation. Acad Med. 2001 May;76(5):469-72

PURPOSE:
To understand the responses of medical students and educators to high-fidelity patient simulation, a new technology allowing "practice without risk."
METHOD:
Pilot groups of students (n = 27) and educators (n = 33) were exposed to a simulator session, then surveyed with multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Open-ended comments were transcribed and coded. They were analyzed for recurring themes and tested for inter-rater agreement. An independent focus group subsequently performed higher-level thematic analysis.
RESULTS:
Overall, 85% of the students rated the session excellent and 85% of the educators rated it excellent or very good. Over 80% of both groups thought that simulator-based training should be required for all medical students. Analytic categories derived from written comments were: Overall Assessment (i.e., "generally good experience"); Process Descriptors (i.e., "very realistic"); Teaching Utility (i.e., "broad educational tool"); Pedagogic Efficacy (i.e., "promotes critical thinking"); and Goals for Future Use (i.e., "more practice sessions"). Thirty percent of students and 38% of educators were impressed by the realism of the simulator, and they (37% and 25%, respectively) identified the ability to "practice" medicine as the primary advantage of simulation. The focus group rated cost as the major current disadvantage (66%).
CONCLUSIONS:
Students' and educators' responses to high-fidelity patient simulation were very positive. The ability to practice without risk must be weighed against the cost of this new technology.
 

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