Development of a Clinical Simulation Video to Evaluate Multiple Domains of Clinical Competence: Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Medical students in Japan undergo a 2-year postgraduate residency program to acquire clinical knowledge and general medical skills. The General Medicine In-Training Examination (GM-ITE) assesses postgraduate residents’ clinical knowledge. A clinical simulation video (CSV) may assess learners’ interpersonal abilities. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between GM-ITE scores and resident physicians’ diagnostic skills by having them watch a CSV and to explore resident physicians’ perceptions of the CSV’s realism, educational value, and impact on their motivation to learn. Methods The participants included 56 postgraduate medical residents who took the GM-ITE between January 21 and January 28, 2021; watched the CSV; and then provided a diagnosis. The CSV and GM-ITE scores were compared, and the validity of the simulations was examined using discrimination indices, wherein ≥0.20 indicated high discriminatory power and >0.40 indicated a very good measure of the subject’s qualifications. Additionally, we administered an anonymous questionnaire to ascertain participants’ views on the realism and educational value of the CSV and its impact on their motivation to learn. Results Of the 56 participants, 6 (11%) provided the correct diagnosis, and all were from the second postgraduate year. All domains indicated high discriminatory power. The (anonymous) follow-up responses indicated that the CSV format was more suitable than the conventional GM-ITE for assessing clinical competence. The anonymous survey revealed that 12 (52%) participants found the CSV format more suitable than the GM-ITE for assessing clinical competence, 18 (78%) affirmed the realism of the video simulation, and 17 (74%) indicated that the experience increased their motivation to learn. Conclusions The findings indicated that CSV modules simulating real-world clinical examinations were successful in assessing examinees’ clinical competence across multiple domains. The study demonstrated that the CSV not only augmented the assessment of diagnostic skills but also positively impacted learners’ motivation, suggesting a multifaceted role for simulation in medical education.