Can we use clinical simulation to evaluate medical interns during the training period?

Abstract

Medical interns/residents during the training period should acquire knowledge and skills progressively to face any clinical situation. Clinical simulation is a tool that allows them to train the knowledge and skills acquired and apply them to almost real situations before coming into contact with the patient.

The objective of this study is to identify which skills depend on training (year of residence) and are key in performance, and provide more data to improve the validation of the HARP (Harvard Assessment of Anesthesia Resident Performance) scale, a measuring instrument which values ​​the performance of residents in different simulated scenarios.

A prospective observational study was conducted in which fifty-one first-year and sixteen third-year residents were selected from three different training programs. Seven scenarios were designed according to the training level where residents assume the role of main anesthesiologist in the development of the case. 

The results of this study add validity to the evidence that the simulation can be used to assess the performance of residents, as well as find gaps in skills in selected areas, including some that are not found in the classic assessments.

The results obtained suggest that the evaluation with the HARP method, if properly structured, can provide high-quality detailed information on the clinical capabilities of each resident, with reasonably accurate and standardized scores.