Medical students improve their self-assessed ability in managing acute situations after simulation-based training

Methods Medical students in their surgical or medical clinical clerkship in the Capital Region of DK were invited to participate in one day simulator-based training course. The students were divided into groups of 4-7 students. They were trained in managing acute medical scenarios such as respiratory and/or circulatory failure with special focus on using the ABCDE assessment approach. Methods used were lectures, workshops and simulation-based training followed by feedback sessions. Before and after training, the students rated their ability to 1) perform an ABCDE assessment, 2) recognize when a patient is critically ill, 3) begin treatment of respiratory failure, and 4) of circulatory failure. Finally the students evaluated their professional development during the course, their overall benefit from the course and if they would recommend simulation training as an integrated course in their clinical clerkships.