Exploring the efficacy of hybrid simulation to train medical students for safe blood transfusion - one of the GMC outcomes for graduates

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts20252556

Keywords:

Clinical practice, High-fidelity simulation training, Medical education, undergraduate, Simulations

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the overall levels of student satisfaction at the end of blood transfusion sessions using a hybrid simulation. A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted at King’s College London, UK. Medical students (n = 245) from year four were included and offered 1.5-hour sessions in groups of 5-6. Five-point Likert scale was used for data collection (strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, strongly disagree). Descriptive statistics (percentage and mean) were used to analyse the data. The mean percentage of “strongly agree” and “agree” was 84.6% ± 1.68, 70.4% of students felt confident to prescribe a unit of red blood cells and 73.4% felt confident to administer a blood transfusion on their next placement. Above 95% found the sessions helpful and recommended more sessions in future. The low standard deviation (± 1.68) depicts a consistent and uniform set of observations, suggesting the consistency and low variability in the student responses, implying the reliability of the study results. High student satisfaction supports using combining simulation fidelities to enhance learning and skills development in undergraduate healthcare education.

Author Biographies

Salman Riaz, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar

Dr. Salman Riaz is a clinician and specialist in simulation-based education, serving as a Simulation Research and Training Specialist, Director of the Standardized Patients Program, and Director of the Simulation Fellowship Program at the ITQAN Clinical Simulation and Innovation Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. With extensive expertise in medical education, curriculum planning, assessment, and faculty development, he has a proven track record in program development and accreditation.

MIsbah Tabassum, Arden University

Misbah Tabassum works as an Associate Lecturer and Dissertation Supervisor in Health & Care Management, School of Leadership & Service Industry Management, Arden University, UK. She has expertise in research methodologies and philosophical assumptions.

Colin Butcher, King's College, London

Colin Butchers is a Lecturer in Medical Education and Head of Clinical Skills, Simulation and Interprofessional Education in the GKT School of Medical Education, King’s College London, UK.

References

Al-Elq, A. (2010) Simulation-based medical teaching and learning. Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 17, 1, 35. https://doi.org/10.4103/1319-1683.68787

Bielby, L., Peterson, D. and Spigiel, T. (2018) Transfusion education for nurses and transfusion practitioners in Australia. ISBT Science Series, 13, 3, 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1111/VOXS.12409

Cole, R., Shen, C., Shumaker, J., Matthews, K., Brown, Z., Cuestas, J. and Rudinsky, S. (2024) The impact of simulation-based training on medical students’ whole blood transfusion abilities. Transfusion, 64, 1533–1542.

Flood, L. S. and Higbie, J. (2016) A comparative assessment of nursing students’ cognitive knowledge of blood transfusion using lecture and simulation. Nurse Education in Practice, 16, 1, 8–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.05.008

GMC. (2018). Outcomes for graduates 2018. Retrieved from www.gmc-uk.org/-/media/documents/dc11326- outcomes-for-graduates-2018_pdf-75040796.pdf

Gouifrane, R., Lajane, H., Belaaouad, S., Benmokhtar, S., Lotfi, S., Dehbi, F. and Radid, M. (2020) Effects of a Blood Transfusion Course Using a Blended Learning Approach on the Acquisition of Clinical Reasoning Skills among Nursing Students in Morocco. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 15, 18, 260–269. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v15i18.15169

Flausino, G., Nunes, F., Cioffi, J., Proietti, A. (2015) Teaching transfusion medicine: current situation and proposals for proper medical training, Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, 3, 7, 58–62.

Henderson, K. and Salado, A. (2024) The Effects of Organizational Structure on MBSE Adoption in Industry: Insights from Practitioners. Engineering Management Journal, 36,1, 117–143. https://doi.org/10.1080/10429247.2023.2210494

Illing, JC, & et al. (2008) How prepared are medical graduates to begin practice. A comparison of three diverse UK medical schools: The General Medical Council.

INACSL. (2016) Standards committee: INACSL standards of best practice: simulation SM simulation design. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 12, S, S5–S12.

Lee, J. J., Tsang, V. W. Y., Chan, M. M. K., O’Connor, S., Lokmic-Tomkins, Z., Ye, F., … Ho, M.-H. (2023) Virtual reality simulation-enhanced blood transfusion education for undergraduate nursing students: A randomised controlled trial. Nurse Education Today, 129, 105903. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2023.105903

Lin, H.-H. (2016) Effectiveness of simulation-based learning on student nurses’ self-efficacy and performance while learning funda- mental nursing skills. Technology and Healthcare, 24, S369–S375.

Mole, L. J., Hogg, G. and Benvie, S. (2007) Evaluation of a teaching pack designed for nursing students to acquire the essential knowledge for competent practice in blood transfusion administration. Nurse Education in Practice, 7, 4, 228–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2006.08.004

Moxley, A., Baxter, L. and White, P. (2019) Improving medical student preparedness for practice in line with the General Medical Council’s outcomes for graduates: a pilot study. Future Healthcare Journal, 6, s18–s19. https://doi.org/10.7861/futurehealth.6-2-s18

Palaganas, J.C., Maxworthy, J.C., Epps, C.A. and Mancini, M.E. (2014) Defining excellence in simulation programs. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pg 522.

Panzer, S., Engelbrecht, S., Cole‐Sinclair, M.F., Wood, E.M., Wendel, S., Biagini, S., Zhu, Z., Lefrère, J.J., Andreu, G., Zunino, T. and Cabaud, J.J. (2013) Education in transfusion medicine for medical students and doctors. Vox sanguinis, 104, 3.

Prentice, D. and O’Rourke, T. (2013) Safe Practice: Using High-Fidelity Simulation to Teach Blood Transfusion Reactions. Journal of Infusion Nursing, 36, 3, 207–210. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAN.0b013e318288a3d9

Riaz, S., Jaradat, A. A. K., Gutierrez, R. and Garadah, T. S. (2020) Outcome of undergraduate medical education using medical simulation according to students’ feedback. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, 20, 3, 310–315. https://doi.org/10.18295/squmj.2020.20.03.010

Riaz, S. and Naemi, R. (2024) An investigation into when and how to train medical students for the most effective learning of non-technical skills: A qualitative study. The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 22, 1–2, 154–177. https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts20242374

Wang, Z., Liu, Q. and Wang, H. (2013) Medical simulation-based education improves medicos’ clinical skills. Journal of Biomedical Research, 27, 81–84.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-16

How to Cite

Riaz, S., Tabassum, M., & Butcher, C. (2025). Exploring the efficacy of hybrid simulation to train medical students for safe blood transfusion - one of the GMC outcomes for graduates. The Journal of Practice Teaching and Learning, 23(2), 46–57. https://doi.org/10.1921/jpts20252556

Issue

Section

Articles
Received 2025-07-16
Accepted 2025-11-10
Published 2025-12-16