MedPath

Expert Guided Training Versus Self Learning with Virtual Patients

Not Applicable
Conditions
Educational Problems
Virtual Patient
Emergencies
Registration Number
NCT06675409
Lead Sponsor
Acibadem University
Brief Summary

Virtual patients have increasingly been used in the training of healthcare professionals to enhance critical decision-making skills in emergency patient management education. The aim of this study is to investigate the contribution of the virtual patient simulation used in the education of paramedic students by comparing the effectiveness of self-directed learning with expert-guided learning. Additionally, it is believed that the study will be beneficial for educators responsible for program design who are interested in integrating the case-based learning method with virtual patients into their curriculum.

Detailed Description

Virtual patient-based simulation training is increasingly being used in healthcare and medical education to enhance problem-solving and critical decision-making skills. There are two common approaches in these trainings: instructor-led learning and self-directed learning. In instructor-led virtual patient-based simulation training programs, an experienced subject matter expert guides students through virtual patient simulation activities. The instructor provides feedback, support, and encourages discussion and collaboration among students during the training. This approach is beneficial for students who benefit from structured activities and social support in a group learning environment. However, it can be time-consuming, costly, and may not be suitable for every student.

In self-directed learning, the responsibility for learning lies entirely with the student. Students are given access to virtual patient simulations and are encouraged to work through the cases independently. This approach may be more suitable for students who are self-motivated, enjoy autonomy, and have the discipline to work independently. It also offers a cost-effective and flexible option. However, in this approach, the feedback and support needed for skill development are limited to the feedback reports generated by the computer-based virtual patient software program.

In the literature, studies on the use of virtual patient applications in paramedic students' emergency patient management training are limited. This study aims to contribute to educators who use or plan to use virtual patient simulation by comparing instructor-led virtual patient-based simulation training with self-directed virtual patient-based simulation training to determine which approach is more effective in enhancing students' critical decision-making skills.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
93
Inclusion Criteria

Volunteer 4th-semester paramedic students from the Department of Vocational Health Sciences at the University

Exclusion Criteria

Previous experience with the same clinical scenarios

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Virtual patient exam scores of the participants1 week

All the participants will attend to the virtual patient exam and the scores will be compared between groups

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University CASE Simulation Center

🇹🇷

Istanbul, Turkey

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