900 Section - Implementation of High-Fidelity Simulation in a Physiatry Residency Training Program

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PT

Presenting Author/Autor expositor(s)

BL

Brendan K. Lim, MD

Resident
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Co-Author/Coautor(s)

SW

Shane Wunder, MD, FRCPC

Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Jacqueline Kraushaar, MD, FRCPC

Assistant Professor
University of Saskatchewan
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Objectives : To evaluate the effectiveness of a high-fidelity simulation-based training session on improving resident confidence levels for managing high-acuity clinical scenarios.

Design: Resident self-reported confidence levels were assessed using the 5 point O-SCORE adapted from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Entrustable Professional Activities framework. A threshold of ≥4 was chosen to indicate sufficient confidence in management. Residents rated their confidence in four high-acuity scenarios; two scenarios were then delivered as high-fidelity simulation sessions, while the remaining two served as controls. Surveys were completed pre, post, and 6 months following the simulated training session.

Results: Nine Physiatry residents participated. All residents had prior experience with simulation training, but none with Physiatry-specific cases. The proportion of residents who achieved a sufficient confidence score in the simulated cases improved from 44.4% to 100% immediately following the session, while the control group improved from 33.3% to 50%. At 6 months, confidence regressed to 83.3% in the simulated cases, but improved to 77.7% in the control cases. In the 6-month interval, the residents managed only 2 clinical situations covered with the simulated cases and 13 with the controls. All residents felt that the training was beneficial and felt safe in the learning environment. All senior residents felt the new simulated cases were more effective for learning than the previous classroom-based teaching sessions.

Conclusion: Implementation of a new simulation-based training program was effective for improving confidence in PMR trainees for managing high-acuity clinical scenarios. The greatest improvement was seen initially after the session for the simulated cases, but confidence in all four scenarios remained improved at 6 months compared to baseline. Increased clinical exposure to the control scenarios may have contributed to increased confidence in these areas.