Structured pre-briefing: the impact on medical students’ anxiety and learning experience in simulation

Introduction: The expansion of simulation-based learning in undergraduate education is mounting, an approach that can reduce the anxiety of learners is emphasized. Methods: This study is conducted in the Medical Skills and Simulation Center (MSSC) to identify the effects of using structured pre-briefing (concept mapping) on final-year medical students’ anxiety levels and the relationship with perception after simulation. Design: Eighty-four fifth-year medical students in Arabian Gulf University on Jan 2021, over three months intervals. Students were divided into two groups: the interventional group of 44 students who received structured pre-briefing, including a concept map, and the control group, which included 40 students that received traditional pre-briefing. At the end of the session, each student completed a sheet of six items: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) as a tool for measuring anxiety and a questionnaire to evaluate students’ perception (understanding) of simulation. Linear correlation coefficient was measured between anxiety level and students’ understanding or perception of experience. Results: Anxiety level measured by the STAI-6 score was higher in the control group than the interventional group of 48.9 ± 15.5 versus 34.9 ± 11.3, P < 0.001. The perception of experience was shown to be greater for the interventional group than for the control group of 46.5 ± 6.2 versus 41.7 ± 9.7, P,0.001. There was a significant negative correlation between the anxiety level and the students’ understanding (perception) of the pre-briefing (P = - r: 0.004). The implication of anxiety reduction was clear among medical students using the concept mapping as the awareness and perception of the elements of environments improved significantly. Conclusion: Structured pre-briefing using concept mapping decreases their anxiety level, which leads to improve the understanding and perception during simulated clinical experience.