Teaching antiarrhythmic therapy and ECG in simulator-based interdisciplinary undergraduate medical education.
BACKGROUND
Third-year students in the Dresden Medical School Programme undergo a 6 week course 'Basics of Drug Therapy' in a problem-based learning curriculum. As part of this course a practical seminar about antiarrhythmic drugs and ECG was set up. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of a simulator in this course.


METHODS
A total of 234 students were randomly allocated to receive instructions with (Group S) or without (Group C [control]) the use of a simulator. After a lecture on antiarrhythmic drugs, arrhythmias were presented to Group S using an advanced life support (ALS) manikin. The students were asked to administer a drug or to defibrillate, and the outcome was shown on the monitor. The students in Group C were presented with ECG charts without a simulator. The course was evaluated by a questionnaire and multiple-choice questions (MCQ) about arrhythmias.


RESULTS
We received 222 questionnaires. The content-time ratio was rated almost perfect in both groups, but the students in Group S rated the course better suited to link theory and practice. Students in Group S considered the simulator helpful and a good tool for teaching, and the extra effort to be worthwhile. A significantly higher number of students in Group S preferred electric cardioversion as therapy for ventricular tachycardia.


CONCLUSIONS
An ALS manikin can be an effective tool in teaching clinical pharmacology.
Mueller
M P
MP
Interdisciplinary Simulation Centre, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Germany. michael.mueller@uniklinikum-dresden.de
Christ
T
T
Dobrev
D
D
Nitsche
I
I
Stehr
S N
SN
Ravens
U
U
Koch
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D016544:Patient Simulation; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents