Low cost, high yield: simulation of obstetric emergencies for family medicine training

Simulation is now the educational standard for emergency training in residency and is particularly useful on a labor and delivery unit, which is often a stressful environment for learners given the frequency of emergencies. However, simulation can be costly.

This study aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of low-cost simulated obstetrical emergencies in training family medicine residents.

The study took place in a community hospital in an urban underserved setting in the northeast United States. Low-cost simulations were developed for postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and preeclampsia/eclampsia (PEC). Twenty residents were randomly assigned to the intervention (simulated PPH or PEC followed by debriefing) or control (lecture on PPH or PEC) group, and equal numbers of residents were assigned to each scenario. All participants completed a written test at baseline and an oral exam 6 months later on the respective scenario to which they were assigned. The participants provided written feedback on their respective teaching interventions. We compared performance on pretests and posttests by group using Wilcoxon Rank Sum.

Twenty residents completed the study. Both groups performed similarly on baseline tests for both scenarios. Compared to controls, intervention residents scored significantly higher on the examination on the management of PPH but not for PEC. All intervention group participants reported that the simulation training was "extremely useful," and most found it "enjoyable."

We demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of two low-cost obstetric emergency simulations and found that they may result in persistent increases in trainee knowledge.