BMC Medical Education (Nov 2023)

Comparison of simulation and video-based training for acute asthma

  • Mohamed Habib Grissa,
  • Randa Dhaoui,
  • Khaoula Bel Haj Ali,
  • Adel Sekma,
  • Maroua Toumia,
  • Sarra Sassi,
  • Abdel Karim Sakly,
  • Asma Zorgati,
  • Hajer Bouraoui,
  • Houda Ben Soltane,
  • Zied Mezgar,
  • Riadh Boukef,
  • Hamdi Boubaker,
  • Wahid Bouida,
  • Kaouthar Beltaief,
  • Semir Nouira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04836-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 1
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Abstract Background Emergency medicine is particularly well suited to simulation training. However, evidence for the efficacy of simulation-based medical training remains limited especially to manage high-risk cases such as acute asthma. Objective The objective of our study was to compare the performance of high-fidelity simulation (HFS) and interactive video-case challenge-based training (IVC) for final-year medical students in the management of acute asthma. Methods This was a prospective randomized controlled study conducted at the emergency department (ED) of Monastir University hospital ( Tunisia). 69 final-year medical students were randomized to HFS (n = 34) and IVC (n = 35) training on acute asthma topic. The study was conducted over a 1-week period. Efficacy of each teaching method was compared through the use of multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQ) before (pre-test), after (post-test) training and a simulation scenario test conducted 1 week later. The scenario was based on acute asthma management graded on predefined critical actions using two scores: the checklist clinical score (range 0 to 30), and the team skills score (range 0 to 16). Student satisfaction was also evaluated with the Likert 5 points scale. Two years after the post-test, both groups underwent a third MCQ testing to assess sustainability of knowledge. Results There were no differences in age between groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the HFS and IVC groups pre-test scores (p = 0.07). Both groups demonstrated improvement in MCQ post-test from baseline after training session; the HFS MCQ post-test score increased significantly more than the IVC score (p < 0.001). The HFS group performed better than the IVC group on the acute asthma simulation scenario (p < 0.001). Mean checklist clinical score and mean team skills score were significantly higher in HFS group compared to IVC group (respectively 22.9 ± 4.8 and 11.5 ± 2.5 in HFS group vs 19.1 ± 3 and 8.4 ± 3.1 in IVC group) (p < 0.001). After 2 years, MCQ post-test scores decreased in both groups but the decrease was lower in HFS group compared to the IVC group. Conclusion High-fidelity simulation-based training was superior to interactive video-case challenge for teaching final year medical students,and led to more long-term knowledge retention in the management of simulated acute asthma patients. Trial registration The study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT02776358 on 18/05/2016.

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