A Simulation-based, cognitive assessment of resident decision making during complex urinary catheterization scenarios

A protocol for a scoping review of the use of mental simulation and full-scale simulation in practising healthcare decision-making skills of undergraduate nursing students

AIM

This scoping review aims to explore the effect of FSS and mental simulation on the decision-making skills of nursing students.

BACKGROUND

Full-scale simulation (FSS) has been the most used simulation modality in nursing education due to its applicability to enhance both technical and non-technical skills. However, FSS can be excessively costly and other factors such as technophobia and lack of trained staff and support make FSS less accessible, especially for nursing education. Therefore, a novel mental simulation that is interactive and supported by visual elements can be a substitute for FSS, at least for some of the skills, such as clinical decision-making. Reviews comparing the effectiveness of FSS and mental simulation on decision-making skills in nursing students are lacking. Further knowledge on the effectiveness of these two modalities on decision-making skills for nursing students is needed to inform the nursing education curriculum and to decide between the two modalities.

DESIGN

This protocol adheres to the guidelines outlined in the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-scr) checklist.

METHOD

The methodological framework for scoping reviews will be followed for this scoping review. Scopus, EBSCOhost the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE and for the grey literature ERIC and BASE will be searched for related studies. The search will be limited to January 2008 and April 2023 (up-to-date) and English. A detailed search strategy was developed with an experienced research information manager and this strategy will be adapted to each database. A single screening will be performed by an author who will screen all abstracts and titles and full-text publications. After the study selection step of the framework, the data from the included studies will be charted using a data extraction form. The data will be synthesised by comparing the effect of FSS and mental simulation on decision-making skills.

CONCLUSION

A synopsis of the publication on FSS and mental simulation on nurse students' decision-making skills will be useful for stakeholders when choosing between two modalities to deliver decision-making skills to nursing students and also help to inform the nursing education and simulation practice.

SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION

Protocols.io (doi: 10.17504/protocols.io.e6nvw57y7vmk/v1).

Hidden Curriculum in Medical Residency Programs: A Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION

Hidden curriculum is important in medical education and has numerous, long-lasting effects on medical residency. The present scoping review seeks to investigate, identify, and plot the main concepts relating to hidden curriculum and its dimensions, domains, impacts and factors in medical residency courses based on the main references and evidence.

METHODS

Scoping review methodology was used to guide a search of electronic databases for relevant papers. Of the 394 abstracts initially identified, after screening of both abstracts and full-text papers, 43 studies were selected for inclusion in this review. Following abstraction of key information from each study, a content analysis was undertaken.

RESULTS

Eleven themes were identified from the content analysis: 1) Organizational Issues (13.77%), 2) Socio-cultural Issues (10.5%), 3) Professional Issues (13.41%), 4) Communicational Factors (8.7%), 5) Educational Issues (22.83%), 6) Resident Personal Characteristics (21.01%), and 7) Resident Educational Characteristics (9.78%). Among the extracted effective hidden curriculum factors, the role modeling had the highest frequency and was emphasized in the studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Although this study explained and identified the components, elements and also the preparation of the initial format of the hidden curriculum framework of the medical residency program, its results can reduce the negative effects of the hidden curriculum on it. More extensive and in-depth studies with different qualitative methods or mixed methods related to the hidden curriculum in different contexts and disciplines of medical residency are recommended to define characteristics of a constructive hidden curriculum of medical residency programs.