Simulation-based training in asthma exacerbation for medical students: effect of prior exposure to simulation training on performance

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of prior exposure to simulation-based training on medical students’ performance in simulation-based training in asthma exacerbation. METHODS: Third-year novice medical students, who had no prior experience in simulation education and completed diagnostics and internal medicine courses, were recruited in this prospective observational study and divided into the pre-exposure and unexposed groups. Each group received a four-hour asthma exacerbation simulation-based training. The pre-exposure group was exposed to a myocardial infarction simulation training two weeks prior to the asthma simulation training. The main outcome was the performance scores in clinical skills and abilities. Performance and task checklist completion were recorded during the training. In addition, the knowledge level was tested before and after the simulation training. Students’ satisfaction was evaluated using a feedback questionnaire. RESULTS: In a class of 203 third-year novice medical students, 101 (49.8%) and 102 (50.2%) were assigned to the unexposed and pre-exposure groups, respectively. Scores were higher in the post-simulation test compared with the pre-simulation test. Checklist completion was greater in the pre-exposure group compared with the unexposed group (p < 0.001). Performances in communication and medical humanistic care were better in the pre-exposure group than in the unexposed group (p < 0.001). There were no differences in medical history taking, physical examination, auxiliary examination interpretation and treatment formulation between the two groups (p > 0.001). Totally 73.21% and 26.13% of students strongly agreed and agreed, respectively, that asthma exacerbation simulation-based training was necessary and valuable. CONCLUSIONS: Prior exposure to simulation training can improve performance in medical students, including communication skills, medical humanistic care and checklist completion in subsequent asthma exacerbation simulation-based training. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-022-03300-2.