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9th Annual Meeting 
of the 
International Association of Medical Science Educators 

July 14-19, 2005
 

Abstract Category: Innovation & Technology

Poster ID: IT17

PATIENT SIMULATOR PROGRAM IN MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY: EFFECTS ON EXAM SCORES.

James N. Pasley, Ph.D.*, Jehad Albataineh, M.D., and Mohammed Jaffar, M.D.

Departments: Physiology & Biophysics and Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas College of Medicine, Little Rock, Arkansas 42205-7199 USA.

In the past, Medical educators in physiology used animal-based laboratory exercise to supplement physiology lectures.  Now medical simulation is used to provide a synergy between education technology and bedside teaching. In patient simulation, digital technology and problem based learning combine to bring learning concepts to life in a clinical setting. In this study, we used a computer driven patient simulator mannequin (Laerdal, Corp., New York) belonging to the Department of Anesthesiology to demonstrate basic science concepts of cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology in a Medical Physiology course and to investigate student performance on exam questions in cardiovascular and respiratory physiology after the practical application of their class work.  During the cardiovascular and pulmonary sections of the course, the class was divided into small groups of 10 students each and each group was scheduled for twenty minute encounters with Sim-Man on the second floor of University Hospital . The cardiovascular case involved an ischemic heart attack where Sim-Man complained of chest pain and students observed abnormal cardiovascular parameters and were asked to suggest remedies. The pulmonary case involved an acute asthma attack where Sim-Man cannot get his "air" and students again observed abnormal cardiopulmonary parameters and were asked for treatment suggestions. Prior to the Sim-Man experiences, lectures in the course covered fundamental physiological concepts necessary to understand each experience. After the encounters with Sim-Man, students were examined over the material covered in each section of the course including the Sim-Man material to assess the experience.  Scores on the cardiovascular and respiratory exams after Sim-Man was used were increased (p<0.05) compared to previous years when a Sim-Man experience was not available. Patient simulator encounters appear to be of benefit in reinforcing material in medical physiology and may act to soften the divide between the pre-clinical years and clinical years of medical school.

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