Orientation to Medical Simulation Website for First Year Medical Students – a Usability Study

Abstract

Since the publication of To Err is Human (2000) which documented 98,000 deaths per year attributed to medical error, the use of simulation based medical education (SBME) as a mitigation strategy has become ubiquitous. There are three basic stages of SBME including the orientation, scenario and debriefing. The orientation stage is recognized to enhance learning by providing information, activities and context to prepare learners to engage in the simulation scenario and debriefing. The average age of medical students is 24 years. As part of Generation Z they utilize online resources daily and are adept at working independently and researching information as they need it. To meet the needs of first year medical student’s request for more orientation, an online asynchronous module was developed. This usability study measured the module’s learnability, efficiency and error rate, satisfaction and ability to prepare the student for simulation. While results found evidence of an excellent usability, additional data found a low effectiveness rate which improved through iterative design work. Qualitative analysis provided valuable modification strategies and interesting future modifications. This study discusses usability testing methods, evaluation instruments, participant data, and user experience. The value of conducting a usability study as part of the instructional design process proved valuable.