Teaching medical students to choose wisely through simulation

Abstract

The Choosing Wisely (CW) campaign aims to encourage dialog among physicians and patients about the costs and benefits of medical care. The purpose of the present study was to describe the implementation of the CW campaign among medical students in the pediatrics clerkship using different teaching strategies and to evaluate the students' perception and performance. A prospective, interventionist, open study with a control group was conducted. All sixth-year undergraduate medical students that were on their pediatric clerkship at the Emergency Department during the study period were invited to participate. The study consisted of two strategies: a remote video class about the CW initiative and in situ simulation training. By the end of the rotation, all participants were evaluated through an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). A total of 50 students were included, of which 24 watched only the online video (control group) and 26 were exposed to both the online video and the simulation scenarios (intervention group). Students in the intervention group had a significantly higher total score in the OSCE compared to students in the control group (median 90 vs 90; range 78-100 vs 50-100; p: 0.047). Median scores of behavioral items of the OSCE grouped together were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (median 60 vs 50; range 40-60 vs 20-60; p: 0.002).Conclusion: Simulation training about principles of the CW campaign had a greater impact on behavioral aspects of undergraduate students. This learning strategy was well accepted by participants. What is Known: • The Choosing Wisely (CW) campaign aims to encourage dialog among physicians and patients about the costs and benefits of medical care. • Teaching high-value and cost-conscious care to medical students is highly desired.. What is New: • Simulation training about principles of the CW campaign had a greater impact on behavioral aspects of undergraduate students.

Keywords: Child health; Communication skills; Simulation; Undergraduate.