title: Perception of Simulation-based Learning among Medical Students in South India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional methods of educating medical students are no longer sufficient in the current era largely influenced by multimedia. Simulation-based techniques may play a pivotal role in bridging this educational gap.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to explore the perception of medical students towards simulation based learning (SBL).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2013 in a private medical college in Mangalore, Karnataka, India. A total of 247 participants from fourth, sixth, eighth semester and internship were chosen by convenience sampling method. Attitudinal data on perception towards SBL were collected using a self-administered questionnaire with responses in a 5-point Likert's scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of students was 21.3 (standard deviation 1.9) years, and males constituted 55.5% (137/247). Most participants 72.5% (179/247) had favorable perceptions of SBL, with scores of92-118 out of a possible 118 points. Favorable perception towards SBL was seen significantly more among female students (P = 0.04) and senior MBBS students of sixth and eighth semesters (P = 0.05). Nearly, all students (90.7%; 224/247) agreed that simulation supports the development of clinical skills. As many as 29.6% (73/247) agreed that real patients might be replaced with simulated patients in practical examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SBL was perceived as favorable by a large number of participants in this study indicating a bright prospect for its implementation in the medical curriculum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, A J Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nelliyanil
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jindal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.lastname: Utkarsha
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alok
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Mangalore, India.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, AIMS, Bellur, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lankeshwar
keywords: Interns; Medical students; Perception; Simulation-based learning