An interprofessional medical malpractice mock trial: event evolution and assessment of efficacy

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionMedical malpractice trials improve understanding of law and healthcare intersection. Healthcare professional curricula rarely include interprofessional (IP) medical malpractice simulation learning. We describe a framework and student impressions for delivery of a large-scale interinstitutional IP mock trial.MethodsAn interinstitutional IP mock trial established in 2018 evolved from in-person to hybrid to virtual delivery formats. Healthcare and law students participated as trial attorneys, witnesses and jury members. Jurors heard the case (opening statements, Plaintiff/Defendant cases, closing statements) before IP juries convened to deliberate. A debriefing discussion followed verdict delivery. Student evaluations from in-person, hybrid and virtual offerings were compared.ResultsLearners from 19 professions across four institutions and 12 IP facilitators participated in in-person (n = 102), hybrid (n = 77) and virtual (n = 201) events. Similar improvement in perceived IP competency was seen across formats. Equivalent improvement in Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) competencies was seen for in-person, hybrid and virtual events. The vast majority of learners felt that all events, in-person, hybrid and virtual formats, respectively, provided a high level of psychological safety (93%, 95%, 96%), active engagement (93%, 96%, 91%), reduced anxiety about medical malpractice trials (93%, 90%, 93%). Benefits of the virtual approach included greater diversity of IP learners and facilitators due to elimination of the geographical distance barrier.DiscussionA large-scale interinstitutional IP mock medical malpractice trial increased students’ perception of learning and IP skills, and supported healthcare and law students learning with, from and about each other. Virtual large-scale simulation events effectively increase accessibility for learners and expert faculty.