title: Student-written simulation scenarios: a novel cognitive assessment method in a trauma curriculum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Global cognitive and psychomotor assessment in simulation based curricula is complex. We describe assessment of novices' cognitive skills in a trauma curriculum using a simulation aligned facilitated discovery method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Third-year medical students in a surgery clerkship completed two student-written simulation scenarios (SWSS) as an assessment method in a trauma curriculum employing high fidelity human patient simulators (manikins). SWSS consisted of written physiologic parameters, intervention responses, a performance evaluation form, and a critical interventions checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-one students participated. SWSS scores were compared to multiple choice test (MCQ), checklist-graded solo performance in a trauma scenario (STS), and clerkship summative evaluation grades. The SWSS appeared to be slightly better than STS in discriminating between Honors and non-Honors students, although the mean scores of Honors and non-Honors students on SWSS, STS, or MCQ were not significantly different. SWSS exhibited good equivalent form reliability (r=0.88), and higher interrater reliability versus STS (r=0.93 vs r=0.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SWSS is a promising assessment method for simulation based curricula.
authors: University of Hawai'i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, USA. steine@hawaii.edu
authors: Susan K
authors: SK
authors: Steinemann
authors: Benjamin W
authors: BW
authors: Berg
authors: Joseph W
authors: JW
authors: Turban
authors: Kristine M
authors: KM
authors: Hara
authors: Larry R
authors: LR
authors: Alfrey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002982:Clinical Clerkship / Q000379:methods*; D032882:Comprehension; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education; D006254:Hawaii; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D017145:Models, Educational; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000601:surgery