Perception of Obstetrics and Childcare students about the use of clinical simulation in their training

Abstract

The general objective of this study was to determine the perception of the students of the Obstetrics and Puericulture Career of the Universidad de Antofagasta on the use of clinical simulation in their training. Qualitative research of interpretative type was carried out based on the experiences lived by the students during their preclinical workshops. The methodological design was based on grounded theory. Ten fifth-year undergraduate students were interviewed and participated on a voluntary basis. The study was approved by the Ethics and Scientific Research Committee of this Institution. Inductive coding and the constant comparison method allowed the theoretical saturation of the data processed in Atlas.ti. The results showed that clinical simulation is an adequate learning methodology to develop clinical and soft skills without harming people; however, it does not replace the real clinical field. On the other hand, the teacher facilitates self-reflection, increases motivation and reduces the distance between the current situation in which the trainee finds himself and the ideal situation he should reach, as long as he has adequate technical preparation. In conclusion, although the students of this career recognized the contribution of clinical simulation in their training, the challenge remains to consolidate this learning methodology in midwifery.