Utility of Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) in medical education during COVID-19 pandemic

Morgan G 1 , Melson E 2 , Davitadze M 3 , Ooi E 4 , Zhou D 5 , Hanania T 5 Show all authors , Chen W 5 , Thomas L 5 , Allison I 5 , Ding M 6 , Blaggan P 5 , Ng CY 4 , Evans N 7 , Warmington E 5 , Radcliffe E 5 , Soran V 5 , Nirmal R 5 , Boelaert K 8 , Cooney R 6 , Reddy-Kolanu V 6 , Karavitaki N 6 , Pathmakanthan S 6 , Arlt W 6 , Kempegowda P 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Princess of Wales Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Bridgend, UK
  • 2 Ninewells Hospital, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK
  • 3 Georgian-American Family Medicine Clinic "Medical House", Tbilisi, Georgia
  • 4 RCSI & UCD Malaysia Campus, Malaysia
  • 5 College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  • 6 Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
  • 7 Royal Glamorgan Hospital, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Rhondda Cynon Taf, UK
  • 8 Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
  • 9 Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, Email: [email protected]
J R Coll Physicians Edinb, 2021 06;51(2):168-172.
PMID: 34131679 DOI: 10.4997/JRCPE.2021.218

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) aimed to improve clinicians' confidence in managing various clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS: Five SIMBA sessions were conducted between May and August 2020. Each session included simulation of scenarios and interactive discussion. Participants' self-reported confidence, acceptance, and relevance of the simulated cases were measured.

RESULTS: Significant improvement was observed in participants' self-reported confidence (overall n = 204, p<0.001; adrenal n = 33, p<0.001; thyroid n = 37, p<0.001; pituitary n = 79, p<0.001; inflammatory bowel disease n = 17, p<0.001; acute medicine n = 38, p<0.001). Participants reported improvements in clinical competencies: patient care 52.0% (n = 106/204), professionalism 30.9% (n = 63/204), knowledge on patient management 84.8% (n = 173/204), systems-based practice 48.0% (n = 98/204), practice-based learning 69.6% (n = 142/204) and communication skills 25.5% (n = 52/204).

CONCLUSION: SIMBA is a novel pedagogical virtual simulation-based learning model that improves clinicians' confidence in managing conditions across various specialties.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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