Comparative Effectiveness of Training with Simulators Versus Traditional Instruction in Veterinary Education:...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medical Education
• Simulation-Based Learning
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Preparing veterinary students with essential clinical skills is a significant educational challenge.
• Simulators offer a controlled environment to practice real-world phenomena, potentially improving veterinary instruction.
• The efficacy of simulator training in veterinary medicine requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically synthesize existing evidence on the effectiveness of simulator training in veterinary education.
• To establish a consensus on the impact of simulators on veterinary student learning outcomes.
• To guide curriculum integration and future research in veterinary simulation-based education.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive systematic literature search identified 416 potential manuscripts.
• Sixty articles met inclusion criteria, with data extracted from 71 independent experiments.
• A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to determine the overall effect size.

Main Results:

• The overall weighted mean effect size for simulator training was g = 0.49.
• Statistically significant positive effect sizes favored simulation for knowledge (d = 0.41), time (d = 0.35), process (d = 0.70), and product (d = 0.53) outcomes.
• Moderator analysis indicated that study characteristics and instructional design influenced training effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Simulator training demonstrates effectiveness in improving knowledge and clinical skill acquisition for veterinary students.
• Findings support the integration of simulators into veterinary curricula to enhance practical skill development.
• Further research should consider identified moderating factors to optimize simulation-based veterinary education.