Can you learn from a dummy? Pharmacy students’ views and perceptions of SimMan, a human patient simulator

Authors

  • Cleopatra Branch Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
  • Tarlochan Gill Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK
  • Bugewa Apampa Medway School of Pharmacy, Universities of Kent and Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4TB, UK

Keywords:

communication skills, clinical skills, knowledge, problem solving skills, SimMan

Abstract

Background: Simulation-based learning has been used extensively in medicine and nursing but its use in pharmacy education is now gaining momentum.
Aim: To explore the views of second year pharmacy students on the value of SimMan in the teaching of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Medway School of Pharmacy.
Method: A 25-item pre-piloted satisfaction questionnaire was administered to 104 students immediately following a SimMan workshop.
Results: There was a 100% response rate. The majority (80%) of students enjoyed using the simulator, as it allowed them to have „hands on’ experience which led to a perceived enhancement of their knowledge, communication, problem solving and clinical skills. Only 19% of respondents found it stressful working in a technological environment. Students also felt that SimMan should be more widely utilised and made suggestions on how its use could be improved.
Conclusion: SimMan helped students to apply their knowledge. The invaluable feedback from students will help improve its future use.

References

Alinier G, Hunt WB, Gordon R. (2004) Determining the value of simulation in nurse education. Nurse Education in Practice. 4:200-207

Department of Health (2008) Pharmacy in England: Building on strengths – Delivering the Future. Available from http:// www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/ PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083815

Fernandez R, Parker D, Kalus JS et al. (2007) Using a Human Patient Simulation Mannequin to Teach Interdisciplinary Team Skills to Pharmacy Students. American Journal Pharmaceutical Education. 71(3) Art. 51

Seybert AL, Laughlin KK, Benedict NJ et al. (2006) Pharmacy student response to patient simulation mannequins to teach performance-based pharmacotherapeutics. American Journal Pharmaceutical Education. 70(3) Art.48

Seybert AL, Kobulinsky LR, McKaveney TP. (2008) Human patient simulation in a pharmacotherapy course. American Journal Pharmaceutical Education. 72 (2) Art.37

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How to Cite

Branch, C., Gill, T., & Apampa, B. (2015). Can you learn from a dummy? Pharmacy students’ views and perceptions of SimMan, a human patient simulator. Pharmacy Education, 11. Retrieved from https://pharmacyeducation.fip.org/pharmacyeducation/article/view/336

Issue

Vol. 11 (2011)

Section

Research Article

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