Use of Simulation in Medical Education Across Adult Neurology Residency Programs in the US
Nisha Malhotra1, Arielle Kurzweil1, Casey Albin2, Ifeyinwa Asonye3, Michelle Bell4, John Budrow3, Jenna Ford5, Inna Kleyman6, Nina Massad7, Yara Mikhaeil-Demo8, Rebecca Stainman9, Zahari Tchopev10, Briana Wasserstrom11, Nicholas Morris12, Shivani Ghoshal3
1NYU Langone Health, 2Emory Healthcare, 3Columbia University Medical Center, 4New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia, 5University of Florida, 6The Neurological Institute, 7University of Miami, 8Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 9Johns Hopkins Hospital, 10Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Neurology, 11University of Florida Department of Neurology, 12University of Maryland Medical Center
Objective:

This study sought to describe the current use of simulation-based medical education (SBME) in neurology training programs across the United States. 

Background:

SBME is a growing asset to neurologic medical education and an effective tool to improve knowledge-base, confidence, and feedback for trainees in a safe environment. The current state of SBME across neurology training programs, interest in SBME, and barriers to use are not well understood. 

Design/Methods:

We surveyed Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited neurology program directors to determine the extent to which SBME is used in their neurology residency training programs. We surveyed programs using a Qualtrics-based platform on their current use of simulation, perceived barriers to SBME utilization, and interest in increasing SBME in training programs. 

Results:

Of the responding programs, 64/75 (85%) reported use of simulation training in their residency programs. Most programs (55/64, 87%) create their own individual simulations, though simulation topics are similar among programs utilizing SBME and focus mainly on management of neurological emergencies. 52/75 (69%) of programs reported interest in incorporating more simulation training into their institutional curricula. The most commonly reported barriers for expansion of SBME were faculty time constraints and institutional support. Additional limitations included lack of faculty training in simulation, lack of pre-written case availability, and limited mentorship.  Most (53/75, 71%) felt that access to a neurology simulation case repository would be beneficial for improving utilization of simulation in their residency programs.

Conclusions:

There is sizable variation of SBME utilization among adult neurology residency programs. Program directors in adult neurology residency show interest in expanding SBME at their institutions, though are commonly limited by faculty time constraints and institutional financial support. Future projects may focus on how to best create and implement shared simulation resources to overcome these limitations.

10.1212/WNL.0000000000206719