Clinical Simulation in Maternal Code: Healthcare Personnel Satisfaction and Participant Characteristics

Maternal mortality remains a priority public health issue and a sensitive indicator of healthcare system performance. Clinical simulation has been increasingly adopted as an educational strategy to prepare healthcare personnel for obstetric emergencies. This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and occupational characteristics of participants in the Código Mater course and to evaluate their satisfaction and perceptions regarding a simulation-based educational strategy.

An observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted at the Centro de Simulación para la Excelencia Clínica y Quirúrgica (CeSiECQ), a regional simulation center of a public healthcare institution in western Mexico, between May 2022 and December 2025. A total of 577 healthcare professionals participated through non-probability convenience sampling. Sociodemographic and occupational characteristics were analyzed, and participant satisfaction was assessed using an institutional questionnaire consisting of closed-ended and open-ended items. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and participant comments were examined through inductive thematic analysis.

Participants were predominantly young adults aged 22-30 years (n = 494; 85.6%) and female (n = 388; 67.2%). Physicians represented the largest professional group, including operational physicians (n = 321; 55.6%), followed by medical residents (n = 87; 15.1%) and interns or social service trainees (n = 85; 14.7%). Most participants were affiliated with regional general hospitals (n = 204; 35.4%) and general zone hospitals (n = 124; 21.5%). Satisfaction levels were consistently high across all evaluated domains. Qualitative findings identified five major themes: quality of the educational experience, relevance of course content, instructor performance, perceived applicability to clinical practice, and course organization.

Participants reported highly favorable perceptions of the Código Mater simulation-based course. Within the scope of Kirkpatrick Level 1 (Reaction), the findings indicate a high level of acceptance of simulation-based training and highlight its perceived relevance and applicability for obstetric emergency education. Further studies incorporating objective educational and clinical outcomes are required to evaluate the broader impact of the program.