title: Learning features in computer simulation skills training.
abstract: New simulation tools imply new opportunities to teach skills and train health care professionals. The aim of this study was to investigate the learning gained from computer simulation skills training. The study was designed for optimal educational settings, which benefit student-centred learning. Twenty-four second year undergraduate nursing students practised intravenous catheterization with the computer simulation program CathSim. Questionnaires were answered before and after the skills training, and after the skills examination. When using CathSim, the students appreciated the variation in patient cases, the immediate feedback, and a better understanding of anatomy, but they missed having an arm model to hold. We concluded that CathSim was useful in the students' learning process and skills training when appropriately integrated into the curriculum. Learning features to be aware of when organizing curricula with simulators are motivation, realism, variation, meaningfulness and feedback.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Educational Development and Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. eva.johannesson@liu.se
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johannesson
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petersson
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silén
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D003162:Competency-Based Education / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013548:Sweden