Shocking: Top Students Stumble in Med School - What Simulationists Can Do

A new paper from Khalifa University College of Medicine and Health Sciences offers shocking insights for healthcare educators and simulationists.

Shocking: Key Findings

• Even high-achieving students struggle in their first year of medical school
• Main challenges include: ? Using academic resources effectively ? Selecting main ideas from vast amounts of information ? Maintaining motivation ? Concentration ? Managing anxiety

Why This Matters In Healthcare Simulation

We often assume brilliant minds won't struggle with these aspects. This study shows otherwise, suggesting we need to rethink how we design simulation-based learning programs.

What Simulationists Can Do: Spotting Struggling Learners

Faculty and healthcare educators, here's how you can detect if learners are facing these challenges:

1. Ineffective Use of Resources: Learners repeatedly ask for information that's readily available In simulations, they struggle to find or use provided resources efficiently
2. Difficulty Selecting Main Ideas: During debriefings, learners can't summarize key points They focus on minor details instead of critical information in scenarios
3. Low Motivation: Decreased participation in discussions or hands-on activities Lack of enthusiasm or preparation for simulation sessions
4. Poor Concentration: Easily distracted during simulations or lectures Difficulty following multi-step procedures or complex scenarios
5. High Anxiety: Physical signs of stress during simulations (sweating, shaking) Overreaction to minor errors or unexpected events in scenarios

Top Students Stumble in Med School: Tweaking Simulation-Based Healthcare Learning Programs

Recommendations for addressing each of the challenges: Using academic resources effectively ? Selecting main ideas from vast amounts of information ? Maintaining motivation ? Concentration ? Managing anxiety

Using Academic Resources Effectively

Suggestion: Incorporate scenarios that require efficient use of multiple resources.

Example: A mass casualty triage scenario where learners must quickly access and use patient records, equipment manuals, and treatment protocols. This develop skills in rapidly finding and applying relevant information.

Selecting Main Ideas From Vast Amounts Of Information

Suggestion: Design debriefing sessions that focus on identifying key takeaways.

Example: After a complex cardiac arrest simulation, have learners create a mind map of the most critical steps and decisions. This exercise provides practice in distilling essential information.

Maintaining Motivation

Suggestion: Implement gamification elements in your simulations.

Example: Create a "hospital management" simulation where learners earn points for efficient patient care and resource allocation. This gamified approach increases engagement and motivation.

Managing Concentration

Suggestion: Gradually increase complexity and duration of scenarios.

Example: Start with a simple patient assessment, then progressively add complexity like language barriers, family conflicts, or unexpected lab results. This builds learners' ability to maintain focus over time.

Managing Anxiety

Suggestion: Incorporate stress management techniques into pre-briefing.

Example: Before high-stress scenarios like emergency deliveries, guide learners through a quick mindfulness exercise. Teach them to use these techniques during stressful moments in the simulation.

Support the acquisition of these skills to improve learner performance and satisfaction towards the simulation program.

Source Paper

Link to full paper for those interested in diving deeper Exploring challenges in learning and study skills among first-year medical students: a case study

ANSARI SHABNAM ATEEQ B.Sc, MBA (Mktg x HR), PMP?, CPTD?, CPLP?, Strategic Management and Leadership says, "This paper should be a mandatory part of orientation for first-year medical students. So they know that we know.

It would address a major chunk of, "Wait, if this is how med school is in first year, Imma outta here."

The paper breaks up the med school struggle into actionable issues.

It is Open Access under a Creative Commons license.

If I were a med student, I'd be happy that a university understands this is a real problem. Rather than what students experience: sky-high expectations (because they are brilliant in academics, so what's the big deal) and the 'fire-hose' effect mentioned in the paper that outsiders can't understand."

Authors

• Siobhán O’ Sullivan ( Siobhán O' Sullivan MA PhD, Senior Fellow HEA )
• Cynthia Al Hageh ( Cynthia AL HAGEH )
• Zakia Dimassi ( Zakia Dimassi, MD, MHPE, CHSE? )
• Leen Oyoun Alsoud ( Leen Oyoun Alsoud )
• Diane Presley ( Diane P. )
• Halah Ibrahim?

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What changes to simulation programs do you suggest based on the findings? Share in the comments!