title: High-fidelity simulation increases obstetric self-assurance and skills in undergraduate medical students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Teaching intrapartum care is one of the most challenging tasks in undergraduate medical education. High-fidelity obstetric simulators might support students' learning experience. The specific educational impact of these simulators compared with traditional methods of model-based obstetric teaching has not yet been determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly assigned 46 undergraduate medical students to be taught using either a high-fidelity simulator or a scale wood-and-leather phantom. Their self-assessments were evaluated using a validated questionnaire. We assessed obstetric skills and asked students to solve obstetric paper cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Assessment of fidelity-specific teaching impact on procedural knowledge, motivation, and interest in obstetrics as well as obstetric skills using high- and low-fidelity training models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-fidelity simulation specifically improved students' feeling that they understood both the physiology of parturition and the obstetric procedures. Students in the simulation group also felt better prepared for obstetric house jobs and performed better in obstetric skills evaluations. However, the two groups made equivalent obstetric decisions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides first data on the impact of high-fidelity simulation in an undergraduate setting.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: Corinna
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kopp
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kost
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kainer
authors.forename: Martin R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education; D011247:Pregnancy; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching