Onlinization of a simulation course that includes minor emergency procedures.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Online Learning

Background:

• On-site simulation courses are crucial for training primary care physicians in managing minor emergencies and surgical procedures.
• Transitioning traditional in-person medical training to online formats presents unique challenges, particularly for skills-based learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To convert an on-site simulation course for primary care physicians on minor emergency treatment and surgical procedures into an effective online format.
• To evaluate the feasibility and participant satisfaction of online simulation-based training compared to traditional on-site courses.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed course content to distinguish between decision-making and technical skills training for each subject.
• Adapted and supplemented course materials to suit an online delivery format, focusing on simulation-based learning.

Main Results:

• Participant satisfaction with the online course was comparable to the on-site version, with 97.6% rating it as "excellent" or "good".
• The study demonstrated that simulation training for certain procedures, previously thought difficult to teach online, is feasible remotely.

Conclusions:

• Online simulation offers a viable alternative to in-person training for specific medical procedures, enhancing accessibility for physicians facing geographical or work-related constraints.
• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online learning, and hybrid models (both on-site and online) can now offer flexible training options for medical professionals.