Implementation of an on-site simulation programme during COVID-19 and the assessment of its impact on medical students’ competence

Background COVID-19 has greatly impacted medical students’ clinical education. This study evaluates the usefulness of a rapidly implemented on-site simulation programme deployed to supplement our disrupted curriculum. Methods Students on surgical rotations received 4-hour tutor-led simulated patient sessions (involving mannikins with remote audio-visual observation) respecting hospital and public health protocols. Attitudes were questionnaire-assessed before and after. Independent, blinded, nonacademic clinicians scored students’ clinical competencies by observing real patient interactions using the surgical ward assessment tool in a representative sample versus those completing same duration medicine clinical rotations without simulation (Mann–Whitney U testing, p < 0.05 denoting significance) with all students receiving the same surgical e-learning resources and didactic teaching. Results A total of 220 students underwent simulation training, comprising 96 hours of scheduled direct teaching. Prior to commencement, 15 students (7% of 191 completing the survey) admitted anxiety, mainly due to clinical inexperience, with only two (1%) anxious re on-site spreading/contracting of COVID-19. A total of 66 students (30%, 38 females and 29 graduate entrants) underwent formal competency assessment by clinicians from ten specialties at two clinical sites. Those who received simulation training ( n = 35) were judged significantly better at history taking ( p = 0.004) and test ordering ( p = 0.01) but not clinical examination, patient drug chart assessment, or differential diagnosis formulation. Of 75 students providing subsequent feedback, 88% stated simulation beneficial (notably for history taking and physical examination skills in 63%) with 83% advocating for more. Conclusion Our rapidly implemented simulation programme for undergraduate medical students helped mitigate pandemic restrictions, enabling improved competence despite necessarily reduced clinical activity encouraging further development.