Vaginal delivery simulation in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clerkship

Although simulation is now used in other areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, its utility in the training of an uncomplicated vaginal delivery is surprisingly under-explored. Here we describe our experience integrating simulation into the third-year Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GYN) clerkship.

In 2013/14, at the start of each 4-week OB/GYN clerkship, each third-year student participated in a 90-minute vaginal delivery simulation session using the Noelle(®) simulator. Upon completion of the clerkship, they were surveyed using a five-point Likert scale questionnaire (1, inferior; 5, superior) to assess self-perceived training adequacy, clinical preparedness and number of deliveries performed during the clerkship. Students who completed the clerkship in 2012/13, before the introduction of the simulation, were also surveyed to serve as a comparison group. Survey scores and number of deliveries performed were compared between the two cohorts of students.

The 2013/14 cohort (n = 98) who received simulation training gave their training in vaginal deliveries an average rating of 4.1, versus 2.7 for the 2012/13 cohort that did not receive the simulation (n = 80; p < 0.001). Self-perceived preparedness to perform a vaginal delivery was 4.0 in the 2013/14 cohort, versus 3.0 in the 2012/13 cohort (p < 0.001). There was no difference in the number of deliveries performed between the cohorts.

Students that received simulation rated their training adequacy and readiness to perform a vaginal delivery higher than students that did not receive training. Simulation did not increase participation in real-life deliveries. The utility of simulation in the training of an uncomplicated vaginal delivery is under-explored.