Cited by 565Simulation-Based Education in HealthcareInnovations in Medical EducationSurgical Simulation and Training

Simulation-based training is superior to problem-based learning for the acquisition of critical assessment and management skills*

Steadman, Randolph H., Coates, Wendy C., Huang, Yue Ming, Matevosian, Rima, Larmon, Baxter R., McCullough, Lynne, Ariel, Danit·2006·Critical Care Medicine

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether full-scale simulation (SIM) is superior to interactive problem-based learning (PBL) for teaching medical students acute care assessment and management skills. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Simulation center at a U.S. medical school. SUBJECTS: Thirty-one fourth-year medical students in a week-long acute care course. INTERVENTIONS: After institutional review board approval and informed consent, eligible students were randomized to either the SIM or PBL group. On day 1, all subjects underwent a simulator-based initial assessment designed to evaluate their critical care skills. Two blinded investigators assessed each student using a standardized checklist. Subsequently, the PBL group learned about dyspnea in a standard PBL format. The SIM group learned about dyspnea using the simulator. To equalize simulator education time, the PBL group learned about acute abdominal pain on the simulator, whereas the SIM group used the PBL format. On day 5, each student was tested on a unique dyspnea scenario. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean initial assessment and final assessment checklist scores and their change for the SIM and PBL groups were compared using the Student's t-test. A p < .05 was considered significant. The SIM and PBL groups had similar mean (PBL 0.44, SIM 0.47, p = .64) initial assessment scores (earned score divided by maximum score) and were deemed equivalent. The SIM group performed better than the PBL group on the final assessment (mean, PBL 0.53, SIM 0.72, p < .0001). When each student's change in score (percent correct on final assessment minus percent correct on the initial assessment) was compared, SIM group students performed better (mean improvement, SIM 25 percentage points vs. PBL 8 percentage points, p < .04) CONCLUSIONS: For fourth-year medical students, simulation-based learning was superior to problem-based learning for the acquisition of critical assessment and management skills.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1097/01.ccm.0000190619.42013.94

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Authors
Steadman, R. H., Coates, W. C., Huang, Y. M., Matevosian, R., Larmon, B. R., McCullough, L., & Ariel, D.
Affiliations
University of California, Los Angeles (US)
Venue
Critical Care Medicine
Published
2006-01
Volume
34
Issue
1
Pages
151-157
ISSN
0090-3493 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2081482807
Cited by
565
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 52 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 29
FWCI
11.59
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Critical Care Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Surgery › Surgical Simulation and Training
Keywords
simulation-based training, problem-based learning, medical education, dyspnea, acute abdominal pain, medical students, skill acquisition
MeSH terms
Adult, Clinical Competence, Critical Care, Curriculum, Education, Medical, Undergraduate, Educational Measurement, Female, Humans, Male, Sensitivity and Specificity, Students, Medical, Patient Simulation, Critical Illness, Problem-Based Learning

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