Educational effects using a robot patient simulation system for development of clinical attitude

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Simulation Technology
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Assessing the impact of simulation systems on dental student attitudes is crucial for effective clinical education.
• Traditional mannequins (CLINSIM) have limitations in replicating real-patient experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of a full-body patient simulation system (SIMROID) versus a traditional mannequin (CLINSIM) in improving dental students' attitudes.
• To evaluate student perceptions regarding physical pain, treatment safety, and hygiene with both simulation systems.

Main Methods:

• Ten undergraduate dental students participated in crown preparation trials using both SIMROID and CLINSIM.
• Measurements included preparation time, abutment taper (3D analysis), and self-reported questionnaires.
• Qualitative analysis of student feedback on SIMROID was conducted using text mining.

Main Results:

• Students reported significantly better experiences with SIMROID regarding physical pain, safety, and cleanliness (P < .01).
• Preparation time decreased significantly in the second trial for both systems (P < .01).
• Text mining revealed that most students found SIMROID to be similar to real patients.

Conclusions:

• SIMROID is effective in enhancing dental students' attitudes towards patient care and considerations for actual patients.
• Simulation-based training with systems like SIMROID can positively influence student perceptions and preparedness for clinical practice.