• Alexander Zargaran, Riki Houlden, Parker O'Neill, Sierra Schaffer, Vince Chang, Aida Kafai Golahmadi, Johnathan Hirniak, Mohammed Turki, and David Zargaran.
• St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
• Injury. 2022 Oct 1; 53 (10): 319131943191-3194.

ObjectiveReduction in patient-facing teaching encounters has limited practical exposure to Emergency Medicine for medical students. Simulation has traditionally provided an alternative to patient-facing learning, with increasing integration in courses. Rapid advancements in technology facilitate simulation of realistic complex simulations encountered in the emergency setting. This study evaluated the efficacy of high-fidelity simulation in undergraduate emergency trauma medicine teaching.MethodsA consultant trauma expert delivered an introductory lecture, followed by consultant-led small group transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) and chest drain simulations, and a splinting station. Participants then responded to a major trauma incident with simulated patients and high-fidelity mannequins. Pre- and post-surveys were administered to assess change in delegates' trauma surgery knowledge and confidence.DesignOne-group pretest-posttest research design.SettingA higher education institution in the United Kingdom.ParticipantsA convenience sample of 50 pre-clinical and clinical medical students.ResultsRecall of the boundaries of the safe triangle for chest drain insertion improved by 46% (p < 0.01), and knowledge of cardinal signs of a tension pneumothorax improved by 26% (p = 0.02). There was a 22% increase in knowledge of what transoesophageal echocardiograms (TOEs) measure (p = 0.03), and 38% increased knowledge of contraindications for splinting a leg (p < 0.01). The average improvement in knowledge across all procedures when compared to baseline was 35.8% immediately post-simulation and 22.4% at six-weeks post-simulation. Confidence working in an emergency setting increased by 24% (p < 0.001) immediately, and by 27.2% (p < 0.001) at six weeks.ConclusionsThe findings suggest that simulation training within emergency medicine can result in significant increases in both competency and confidence. Benefits were observed over a six-week period. In the context of reduced patient-facing teaching opportunities, emergency medicine simulation training may represent an invaluable mechanism for delivery of teaching.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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