Scenario-based emergency care training and improvement in confidence levels of pre-graduation senior medical students

PURPOSE OF STUDY Confidence levels in junior doctors are improved by pre-graduation courses that focus on clinical skills.1,2. The Professional Completion Module (PCM) in the final year of medicine at University College Dublin (UCD) includes an intensive 2-day scenario-based clinical skills course that focuses on initial emergency care of common problems. The course comprises certified BLS/AED, 2 core lectures, 15 x 30 minute small group skills and scenario stations. Core content is based on PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines3. Multidisciplinary faculty includes senior medical, nursing and paramedic staff. We report the effect of emergency care clinical skills training on the confidence levels of senior medical students prior to graduation. METHODS Data were collected for 3 consecutive years. Pre and post-course questionnaires were completed by 447 of 540 students (response rate 83%) RESULTS Mean confidence levels significantly increased for all parameters related to the clinical skills taught. Students rated this course as a highlight of their final year. CONCLUSIONS Self-assessed confidence is improved by a short, intensive scenario-based course in emergency care. Competency-based training has been shown to translate to improved performance and better patient care on graduation. Assessment of competence as opposed to confidence could be monitored in the future.