Advancing Preclinical Medical Education through High Fidelity Simulation and Standardized Patient Families

Abstract

Introduction: Simulated patient encounters in preclinical medical education are being implemented at various medical schools throughout the United States. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the perceived effectiveness of early preclinical simulations on medical students' education.

Methods: Two classes of osteopathic medical students, class of 2019 and class of 2020, participated in two simulated clinical experiences using high-fidelity patient mannequins and standardized family members during their second year of medical school. These same students, who are now completing their clinical rotations, completed a survey to assess if the experience with a simulated patient/family

Results: A total of 379 students were emailed a survey. Out of 379 total students, 122 surveys were completed (59 from the Class of 2019, 63 from the Class of 2020). The overall response rate was 32%. A majority of the respondents responded positively, with 63% of students stating in their free responses that the simulated patient encounters were experiences that improved their ability to interact professionally and appropriately with patients and family members. P-values between the classes for each survey question was greater than 0.05, indicating that there were no statistically significant differences between the classes of 2019 and 2020 in their survey responses.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that early simulated patient encounters provide a self-reported experience that improves empathy and communication for the students during their clinical rotations.