Beyond multiple choice: Clinical simulation as a rigorous and inclusive method for assessing genetic counseling...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Genetic Counseling Training
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Clinical simulation provides a safe, realistic environment for healthcare students to practice skills.
• Genetic counseling graduate programs increasingly use simulation, but approaches lack consistency and standardization.
• Traditional genetic counselor assessments, like multiple-choice exams, have limitations in capturing true competency and may introduce bias.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of clinical simulation as an innovative approach for genetic counselor education and assessment.
• To highlight the need for evidence-based simulation strategies to enhance GC training.
• To propose simulation as a method to better demonstrate GC competency during training and for board examinations.

Main Methods:

• Review of current simulation use in genetic counseling graduate programs.
• Analysis of limitations associated with traditional genetic counselor board examinations.
• Proposal for integrating simulation into GC training and assessment frameworks.

Main Results:

• Simulation is an understudied but promising tool for genetic counselor (GC) training.
• Existing simulation practices in GC programs lack consistency and standardized research.
• Multiple-choice exams have documented limitations in assessing nuanced skills and can disadvantage underrepresented groups.

Conclusions:

• Simulation can enhance GC learning and assessment, offering a more comprehensive evaluation of skills.
• Standardized, collaborative research is essential to establish best practices for simulation in GC education.
• Innovative approaches like simulation may help GCs better demonstrate competency, addressing limitations of current assessment methods.