Emergency burn education: Evaluating a surgical simulation-based intervention

Abstract

Medical simulation has provided favorable outcomes in the improvement of clinical competence at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The recall of information demonstrably increases when it has been taught in environments similar to the workplace. This study aimed to evaluate the role of a one-day burn simulation session in improving students' knowledge of burn management and interest in plastic surgery as a specialty. A one-day course was designed to deliver multiple lectures covering surgical topics such as the classification and management of burns, followed by a series of practical workshops. Participants were instructed to undergo a pre-course knowledge assessment and a survey focusing on interest in plastic surgery. Students were subsequently instructed to complete a post-course assessment and a survey of knowledge and confidence in managing burns as well as interest in plastic surgery both immediately and 6 weeks post-course. The students' knowledge demonstrated a 54.2% increase in the post-course assessment (p<0.01). 27% of participants (n=14) participated in a 6-week post-course quiz. The knowledge assessment of these participants at 6 weeks post-course also demonstrated a sustained increase of 61.0% (p<0.01). Interest in plastic surgery was increased by 31.4% post-course (p<0.01). At 6 weeks post-course, a sustained increase of 14.7% was demonstrated in comparison to pre-course data (p=0.03). Simulation teaching provides good outcomes in both information retention and interest in plastic surgery as a specialty. Therefore, medical school curriculums may benefit from including burn simulations.