Anesthesia in medical school: A simulation-based curriculum proposal

Abstract

Introduction: Most medical students are not familiar with Anesthesiology, as it is infrequently addressed properly in medical school curricula. However, anesthesiology skills are widely practiced across specialties and commonly performed by general practitioners. Currently, anesthesia curricula are often based on shadowing and lectures without emphasizing relevant skills, behaviors, and attitudes, whereas simulation-based curricula enable a holistic evaluation of the trainee.
 Objective: To implement and assess the perceptions of students and professors of a novel simulation-based anesthesiology curriculum.
 Methods: A descriptive study was planned for evaluating the new proposal. A simulation-based 3-week curriculum was organized using a blended course with skill laboratories. We designed flipped classroom-based lectures (2 weeks) combined with activities using standardized patients, manikins, and hybrid scenarios (1 week). After each activity, feedback was given by an anesthesiologist, as well as individual grading and a survey based on the Kirkpatrick levels.
 Results: From June to November 2020, 53 students were enrolled in the clerkship. Each week, every group of 6-8 students was assigned to the same specialist to perform the activities and track individual progress. The response rate of the survey was 83%. Across the levels of Kirkpatrick, there was an excellent opinion of the activities, as well as a high similarity between the perception of both students and professors.
 Conclusion: Our simulation-based curriculum, which was highly appraised by students and professors, was found to be feasible, appealing, and offered a good introduction to the principles and practices of anesthesiology to medical students.