BACKGROUND/PROBLEM

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) estimates a projected doctor shortage of 90,000 by 2034 in the United States (AAMC, 2024), a shortage of 67,000 in nursing by 2030 (AACN, 2024), and similar shortages in pharmacy, physical therapy, podiatry, dentistry, mental health, & many others (HRSA, 2024).  Such shortages are particularly marked in underrepresented and rural populations, which affects disparities in health outcomes for several health conditions. 

A career in the health professions is based on science, technology, engineering, & math (STEM). Learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience (Kolb, 1984). Simulation is a form of experiential learning that takes place in a controlled environment with role-playing actors, mannequins, & equipment to better replicate the clinical context of each case & has been effective in increasing both knowledge & skills. Traditional lectures alone are insufficient for preparing pre-health students to handle complex emergency scenarios.

Mean=10.4/20 (52%) average on pretests demonstrate a baseline knowledge gap that the intervention aims to address. 

AIM: to increase pre-health students' knowledge & confidence regarding treatment scenarios by 25% following  clinical simulation, as measured by written tests & surveys.