Patient Simulation for Practice Training of Medical Students and Anesthesiology Residents

In recent years, simulation training using a high fidelity simulator for medical students and residents has quickly spread in the US and European countries. Many institutions have started to organize simulation teaching, and provided the facilities. In Japan however, only a small number of medical schools have introduced simulation training into a routine practical program for students. Our anesthesiology department has been using patient simulators to educate students and residents for a practical course of anesthesiology and intensive care medicine for the past three years. We have noticed that to teach by simulation training the role of an instructor is very important. It is no exaggeration to say that whether the simulation teaching results in success or not depends on the instructor's capability. Instructors must coordinate the teaching program according to the trainee's understanding, especially during scenario-based simulation, and give the positive and negative feedback at the end of the training. Our instructors always try to give comfort, confidence and responsibility to the trainee in simulation learning. We will present here our several teaching programs using the fidelity simulators.