NCT03884114

Comparison of Three Modalities to Assess Clinical Competence of Medical Students

Assessment of Clinical Competence of Medical Students: a Comparison of High-fidelity Simulation, Serious Game and Multiple-choice Questions

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 42 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ilumens · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study, focusing on the management of pediatric asthma exacerbations, assesses the clinical skills of medical students using three different evaluation tools: (i) the simulation game "Effic'Asthme" developed to train individuals on the management of pediatric asthma exacerbations; (ii) a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) on the same subject developed for the purpose of the study and (iii) high fidelity (HF)-simulation, considered as the gold-standard for its enhanced realism. Its objective is to determine which of the simulation game or the MCQ reflects the best the clinical competence of medical students evaluated on a HF simulator.

Detailed description

The assessment of medical students' clinical competence has long been of concern to educational institutions. Objective structural clinical examination (OSCE) and assessments in high-fidelity (HF) simulation settings represent interesting evaluation modalities but are associated with huge costs, especially when they are used for large-scale standardized assessments. Multiple choice questionnaires (MCQ) remain the most common evaluation tool in medical schools. Simulation games may represent an interesting compromise between the cheap but limited assessment allowed by MCQs, and the comprehensive but highly expensive assessment allowed by OSCE and HF simulation. This study, focusing on the management of pediatric asthma exacerbations, assesses the clinical skills of medical students using three different evaluation tools: (i) the simulation game "Effic'Asthme" developed to train individuals on the management of pediatric asthma exacerbations; (ii) a MCQ on the same subject developed for the purpose of the study and (iii) HF-simulation, considered as the gold-standard for its enhanced realism. Its objective is to determine which of the simulation game or the MCQ reflects the best the clinical competence of medical students evaluated on a HF simulator.

Conditions

• Educational Problems

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	High-fidelity simulation	The first evaluation modality studied is high fidelity (HF) simulation. In our study, this modality is considered to be the gold-standard assessment method of clinical assessment, because HF simulation corresponds to the modality which reflects the best clinical competence in hospital settings. The HF pediatric manikin used (SimBaby), is able to reproduce all the signs of an asthma exacerbation (coughing, wheezing, tachypnea, chest indrawing, seesaw respiration, cyanosis). In the simulation room, participants can use the same items that those present in the simulation game (a glass of water, paracetamol, short acting beta-agonist, controller treatment (Fluticasone), an asthma spacer with a facial mask, saline nose drops to perform nasal irrigation, oral steroids in tablets (prednisone), and a phone).
OTHER	Simulation game	EfficAsthme is a simulation game used on a tablet computer. This simulation game was developed to train parents on the management of asthma exacerbations of their children. For the purpose of the study, EfficAsthme is diverted from its original use to assess students' clinical skills. The training scenario "A polluted atmosphere" is used in this study. Participants need to observe the signs presented by the child, and to determine the severity of the asthma exacerbation. From a menu on the right of the screen, the participant can choose several actions, especially to provide the short acting beta-agonist.
OTHER	Multiple choice questionnaire	The third evaluation modality corresponds to a multiple choice questionnaire (MCQ) including 15 questions. As for HF-simulation and the simulation game, the MCQ starts with the same briefing and continues with 15 questions regarding the management of a moderate asthma exacerbation.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-03-20
• Primary completion: 2019-07-06
• Completion: 2019-07-06
• First posted: 2019-03-21
• Last updated: 2020-07-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France