Microbiology Simulation on Par With Traditional Wetlab for Pharmacy Students

A commercially available virtual microbiology simulation was similarly effective as a traditional wet laboratory, or wetlab, for enhancing pharmacy student knowledge, skills, and confidence in the area of clinical microbiology, according to a study published in BMC Medical Education.

“Simulation has previously successfully enhanced learning in health professional education,” researchers wrote. “The current global climate due to COVID-19 has further highlighted the important role of technology-enhanced learning in delivering outcomes that meet the requisite learning objectives of a course.”

To compare the educational impact of virtual microbiology simulation with a traditional wetlab, the randomized, crossover study had pharmacy students each complete three wetlab sessions and three virtual microbiology simulation sessions. Students filled out surveys at baseline, after the first intervention (wetlab or simulation), and at the study endpoint after both interventions were completed.

Compared with baseline, both interventions produced statistically significant gains in mean scores across the domains of student knowledge, skills, and confidence, according to the study.

Postintervention mean scores for knowledge, skills, and confidence were higher with virtual microbiology simulation compared with the wetlab. However, the difference between the mean score for each intervention was not statistically significant, leading researchers to conclude that learning outcomes were comparable with either intervention.

“The simulation provided students with a physically and psychologically safe learning environment, with the additional benefits of providing opportunities for students to repeat activities, thus supporting deliberate practice,” researchers wrote. “This suggests that virtual learning tools can, to some extent, replace face-to-face laboratory or clinical teaching or assessment, this being especially useful in a global climate where live teaching is becoming far less frequent.”

Reference:
Baumann-Birkbeck L, Anoopkumar-Dukie S, Khan SA, Cheesman MJ, O'Donoghue M, Grant GD. Can a virtual microbiology simulation be as effective as the traditional wetlab for pharmacy student education? BMC Med Educ. 2021;21(1):583. doi:10.1186/s12909-021-03000-3