[Simulation, a strategy for improving clinical education]

ABSTRACT

Advances in medical and nursing education has led to the transformation of traditional teaching methods to advanced teaching methods for clinical care in a secure environment. Simulation is a unique modality for experiential learning and evaluation. Limited facilities or short-stay patients impact learning in the field of medicine and paramedical sciences. Thus, few learning opportunities are present in the areas of patient care for students. Preparation of a simulated environment helps with the improvement of education, in a controlled environment and prevents of medical errors and any harm to the patient. The aim of this article was to review teaching of simulation in clinical education. Electronic databases and publishers such as proQuest and Elsevier from 2000 to 2011were reviewed. All articles on simulation were collected and related studies to clinical education according to inclusion criteria were picked up. Six qualitative studies, 11 quantitative studies and 4 studies with mixed qualitative - quantitative methods were selected for analysis. Although simulating has different levels, but evidence suggests that in comparison to traditional training and lecture-based methods, it has more efficiency and effectiveness. Simulation is an important tool in clinical education with positive effects for faculty, students and patients. In the past decade, simulation has been a key strategy for the development of clinical skills in students. Policymakers, professors and founders focus on the need to develop clinical skills before entrance to the bedside in order to improve patient safety