<p>The Effect of Simulation Wars on EM Residents’ Global Rating Scales and In-Training Examination Scores</p>

Abstract

Purpose: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) restricted the duty hours for residents training in 2004. With less time to learn medicine, residents may not develop the clinical reasoning skills needed. Simulation can provide a remedy for this lack of time by allowing residents to practice skills and develop clinical reasoning in a simulated environment. Simulation Wars (SimWars), a clinical reasoning simulation has been shown to improve clinical reasoning skills. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of Simulation Wars on In-Training Examination (ITE) Scores and Global Rating Scale (GRS) Scores in Emergency Medicine (EM) residents. Methods: The Quasi-Experimental design was used in this retrospective study. The main comparison was between historical controls, the residents who did not participate in the Simulation Wars, and the intervention group comprised of residents who participated in the SimWars. Results: A total of 127 residents were participants in this study including 70 from the intervention and 57 from the historical control group. There were no significant differences found in GRS scores between both groups except for Communication and Professionalism (p<0.001). No overall improvement in ITE scores for the control group and for the intervention group was found. Furthermore, within the intervention group, while comparing those residents who participated in certain subcategories of SimWars and those who did not, there was a significant improvement in ITE scores in the subcategories of Thoracic Disorders, Abdominal/Gastrointestinal, Trauma Disorders and OBGyn. Conclusion: SimWars in the subcategories of Abdominal/Gastrointestinal, Thoracic, OBGyn and Trauma were found to be associated with improved ITE scores in those subcategories. Since Emergency Medicine utilizes extensive clinical reasoning skills, SimWars may provide better educational opportunities for EM residents.

The impact of fellowship‐trained medical toxicology faculty on emergency medicine resident in‐training examination scores

“… 6 Other factors have also been found to be associated with higher ABEM ITE scores including increased hours of sleep and participation in simulation focusing on certain subcategories. 7 , 8 In non‐EM programs, case‐based, non‐lecture activities have been shown to have a positive impact on internal medicine (IM) ITE scores. 9 Conversely, resident conference attendance and board‐review lectures have not been found to have any significant positive effect on ITE scores.…”

“…Walter et al found that participation and engagement in a question bank is associated with improved performance on the ABEM ITE 6 . Other factors have also been found to be associated with higher ABEM ITE scores including increased hours of sleep and participation in simulation focusing on certain subcategories 7,8 . In non‐EM programs, case‐based, non‐lecture activities have been shown to have a positive impact on internal medicine (IM) ITE scores 9 .…”

Medical student education simulation competitions

“…10 Though Sim Wars is a well-received educational modality in graduate medical education, little literature exists regarding its use in undergraduate medical education, an area where students stand to benefit from early clinical exposure. 4,11,12 In this article, we describe the process of conducting a medical student Sim Wars tournament hosted by a Midwestern ACGME-accredited residency programme. We also describe the experiences of the students who participated in the tournament and their perceptions of it as an educational modality.…”