Medical student-led simulation in COVID-19 crisis

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Infectious Disease Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated rapid retraining for healthcare workers (HCWs) to manage novel clinical situations.
• Simulation training is recognized as an effective method for enhancing HCW confidence in unfamiliar clinical environments.
• There was a need to assess the impact of a specific simulation program on HCWs redeployed to COVID-19 wards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effect of medical student-led simulation training on the confidence of HCWs managing COVID-19 patients.
• To assess the impact of designing and delivering simulation sessions on medical students' confidence as educators.
• To determine the overall utility and benefit of this student-led educational intervention.

Main Methods:

• Senior medical students designed and delivered half-day simulation training sessions focused on COVID-19 clinical scenarios.
• Approximately 150 HCWs participated in repeated sessions prior to redeployment.
• A pre- and post-simulation questionnaire assessed HCW confidence; a separate questionnaire evaluated student experiences.

Main Results:

• Respondents reported significant increases in confidence across all aspects of COVID-19 patient management (p < 0.001).
• Key areas of improved confidence included triage, discharge planning, recognizing deterioration, and basic life support.
• 97% of participants found the training useful, and thematic analysis revealed mutual benefits for both students and HCWs.

Conclusions:

• Medical student-led simulation training is a valuable tool for rapidly building staff confidence during public health crises.
• This model highlights the significant role medical students can play in supporting hospital responses to outbreaks.
• Further research into student-led simulation, including long-term follow-up, is recommended.