ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study is to describe the experience of delivery training for medical students by using a birth simulator as an educational tool during obstetrical clinical clerkship. METHODS: Study participants were 35 third year medical students of K medical school in Seoul. We have developed birth simulation courses using the robot birth simulator (S555 Noelle(TM). Maternal Neonatal Simulation System. Gaumard scientific, Coral Gables, FL.). During 4 weeks clinical clerkship, clinical teacher gave 90 minutes delivery practice session to students by one-to-one basis with birth simulator. After 4 weeks clinical experience, clinical teacher assessed students' delivery performance using birth simulator. Also students completed self-reported questionnaires to assess satisfaction with the teaching process and their perceptions of the effectiveness of simulation practice. RESULTS: Most students ranked delivery training with birth simulator as an interesting and useful way of understanding labor process and getting skills in obstetrics. And they assessed that they had more confidence to perform a vaginal delivery after the training. CONCLUSION: Simulation training with birth simulator during obstetrical clinical clerkship is an effective way to bridge the gap between the theory and the practice and augment clinical experience.