SC21 Simwars ireland: intervarsity competition for medical students in emergency medicine

• Published in: BMJ simulation & technology enhanced learning 2019-11, Vol.5 (Suppl 2), p.A31
• Main Authors: Paula, Hick, Dave, Power, Dave, Hick, Kevin, McGuire, Patrick, Henn, Barry, O’Reilly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Emergency medical care; Medical students; Skills; Students
• ISSN: 2056-6697
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjstel-2019-aspihconf.54

BackgroundSimWars Ireland was founded in 2017 at University College Dublin (UCD) as an intervarsity competition for medical students with a special interest in Emergency Medicine. Its primary aim is to increase the practice of simulation education among students.Project descriptionMedical students from 1st year to 5th year in Ireland’ 6 medical schools train over the course of the academic year, with their respective inter disciplinary coaching teams, consisting of; Paramedics, Nurses, NCHD’s, Consultants and Fire Service Personnel, to have a chance to win the title and host the next SimWars Ireland at their medical school. Technical emergency management skills and Human Factors skills are taught, practiced and debriefed in a simulated environment to medical students. After an initial semifinal, held within the respective medical schools in November, the winning group of students and their respective coaching teams compete in a national competition to win the SimWars Ireland title. Two hundred students participated in the 2019 final in UCC’s ASSERT Centre (https://assert.ucc.ie)DiscussionThe type of learning experienced by the SimWars competitor, emphasizes experiential learning, and introduces patient case scenarios based on real Emergency Department patient presentations such as, abdominal aorta aneurysms, Myocardial Infarction and Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed among others. During the training session debriefs, faculty using structured debrief methods, aim to maximize student learning and translate the lessons learnt to assist the students in applying their learning to improve real clinical performance. This type of learning also offers opportunities for those watching and instructing, as every person involved in the competition can benefit from observing and reflecting on decision making, as well as viewing and discussing practice variations across disciplines and institutions1. SimWars combines a group-learning format, peer learning and individual skill assessment to enhance knowledge and skill performance.ConclusionMedical Students are enthusiastic to participate in and learn and practice their clinical skills in this competition setting. This competition model has application for teaching and learning for other clinical domains and healthcare disciplines, with potential to provide opportunities for future research and human factor training through simulation.ReferencesEndacott R, Gale T, O’Connor A, et al. BMJ Stel 2019; 5: 61–72.