Graber MA, Wyatt C, Kasparek L, Xu Y. Does simulator training for medical students change patient opinions and attitudes toward medical student procedures in the emergency department? Acad Emerg Med. 2005 Jul;12(7):635-9

PMID: 15995096

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To determine how simulator training impacts patients' preferences about medical student procedures in the emergency department.
METHODS:
A questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 151 of 185 patients approached (82% participation) seen in the emergency department of a midwestern teaching hospital. The questionnaire asked how many procedures they would prefer a medical student have performed after mastering the procedure on a simulator before allowing the medical student to perform this procedure on them. The procedures included venipuncture, placement of an intravenous line, suturing the face or arm, performing a lumbar puncture, placement of a central line, placement of a nasogastric tube, intubation, and cardioversion. These results were compared with those of a similar study asking about the same procedures without the stipulation that the skill had been mastered on a simulator.
RESULTS:
A high of 57% (venipuncture) and a low of 11% (placement of a central line) would agree to be a student's first procedure after simulator training. Except for intubating and suturing, participants were more likely (p < 0.05) to allow a medical student to perform a procedure on them after simulator training than without simulator training. Many patients prefer not to have a medical student perform a procedure no matter how many procedures the student has done (low of 21% for venipuncture, high of 55% for placement of a central line).
CONCLUSIONS:
Patients are more accepting of medical students performing procedures if the skill has been mastered on a simulator. However, many patients do not want a medical student to perform a procedure on them regardless of the student's level of training.
 



Author's contacts: mark-graber@uiowa.edu