Simulation-based training is an effective technique for teaching physicians, nurses, dentists, emergency medical technicians, and other health professionals, according to a research review led by Mayo Clinic researchers. More than 600 studies assessing the use of virtual reality computers, mannequins, and training models used for teaching skills related to surgery, trauma management, obstetrics, and team communication were analyzed. Conclusions from the review were published September 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“We reviewed hundreds of articles, and, with extremely rare exceptions, we found improved outcomes for those who trained with simulation,” says lead author David Cook, MD, of Mayo Clinic’s Department of General Internal Medicine. “This held true across a wide variety of learners, learning contexts and clinical topics.”
Due to the increasing amount of medical information, the transformation of practice environments, and the development of physician-patient relationships, “we need more effective, more efficient, and safer ways to learn,” Dr Cook says. “Simulation-based instruction has unique advantages, including the opportunity to practice without harming patients, repeat training to become more proficient and structure training for more effective learning.”
According to researchers, variation in the quality and results of the simulation activities was detected. “Not all training was equally effective,” Dr Cook says. “Now that we know that simulation works, the next step is to understand how to use simulation-based instruction effectively and efficiently.”
Source: Mayo Clinic.