A Novel, Low-Fidelity, Low-Cost Residency “Simulation Festival” Competition: An Opportunity for Scholarly Innovation [ID: 1381241

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Simulation has rapidly expanded in obstetrics and gynecology for teaching medical knowledge, surgical skills, and maintenance of certification. Low-fidelity simulations are typically lower cost to produce and have been proven beneficial for surgical training. METHODS: The Junior Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District X created a competition at their Annual District Meeting in October 2022. All nine residency programs submitted and showcased a low-cost, novel simulation in obstetrics and gynecology at a 1-hour event open to all attendees. After IRB exemption was obtained, a postevent survey was completed by the participants at the event. RESULTS: A total of 77 individuals completed our postevent survey (medical students 12.99%, residents 58.44%, staff or fellows 28.57%). The majority of respondents felt simulation is valuable to ob-gyn training (96.10%). All respondents reported they would like to see the event repeated at future Annual District Meetings. The majority of resident responders reported they would be very likely (79.07%) or likely (18.60%) to use one of the simulations presented at the festival in future teaching or training. Fifteen respondents were involved in creating a simulation for the festival. Most simulations were very easy (60.00%) or easy (33.33%) to make, and all were reported to be very reproducible (100.00%). CONCLUSION: This unique event for Junior Fellows was successful in fostering innovative, low-cost, low-fidelity, highly reproducible simulations in obstetrics and gynecology. Our goals are to continue this event in future years, expand to other districts, foster reproduction of simulations at residency programs and medical schools, and support the publication of novel ideas.