High fidelity simulation (HFS) training has been used for a number of years in medical schools to help teach medical students how to deal with situations occurring in acute and emergency medicine. Undergraduate students who have had training using HFS in the acutely ill patient have found the experience a `valuable addition’¹ to their learning. 

Obstetrics and Gynaecology foundation doctors are trained, in part, using simulated patients. Medical students are not, however, yet given this opportunity.

We propose embedding HFS into the undergraduate O&G curriculum to improve confidence in decision making and ability to recognise patients in immediate danger since these are necessary skills required by junior doctors.

The aim was to assess whether teaching with a simulated patient improved confidence in situation awareness, history taking, decision making and knowing when senior help is required. The confidence levels of eleven students were measured using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire before and after a HFS training session comprising an acute ectopic pregnancy. 

T-tests were carried out on the mean scores of the Likert-scale before and after HFS to determine any significant change in confidence. Click 'more detail' to see enlarged graph. 

Dr. Roger Sharpe, Director of Medical Education, Northwick Park Hospital

Dr. Colin Mason, Research Fellow, Northwick Park Hospital

Dr. James Budge, Foundation Year 1, Ealing Hospital

1. Macdowell, J. (2006) The assessment and treatment of the acutely ill patient—the role of the patient simulator as a teaching tool in the undergraduate programme, Medical Teacher, 28(4): 326-9

2. Paskins, Z; Peile, E. (2010) Final year medical students' views on simulated-based teaching: a comparison with the Best Evidence Medical Education Systematic Review, Medical Teacher, 32(7): 569-77

3. Hansen, M. (2008) Versatile, Immersive, Creative and Dynamic Virtual 3-D Healthcare Learning Environments: A Review of the Literature Journal of Medical Internet Research, 10 (3):e26