Online-synchronized clinical simulation: an efficient teaching-learning option for the COVID-19 pandemic time and:...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Sciences Simulation
• COVID-19 Research

Background:

• Face-to-face clinical simulation is a cornerstone in health sciences education.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift to virtual environments due to social distancing.
• Non-presential simulation was minimally utilized in Latin America pre-pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate the efficacy of online-synchronized clinical simulation for COVID-19 patient management training.
• Assess medical student learning and performance in virtual simulation settings.
• Determine the perceived quality of online debriefing and understand learning generation.

Main Methods:

• Online-synchronized clinical simulation implemented in three Latin American countries.
• Focus on medical students' management of COVID-19 patients.
• Student-led assessment of online debriefing quality and learning experiences.

Main Results:

• Online-synchronized simulation demonstrated efficacy in enhancing medical students' learning and performance.
• Students reported positive experiences with the virtual learning methodology.
• The study provided insights into the mechanisms of learning within this remote simulation format.

Conclusions:

• Online-synchronized clinical simulation is an effective alternative for health sciences education, especially during crises.
• Virtual simulation and debriefing can successfully replace traditional methods.
• This methodology offers a scalable solution for medical training in Latin America and beyond.