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Virtual simulation as a didactic strategy in the teaching of clinical pharmacology in medical education

Abstract:

Introduction: Traditional clinical pharmacology teaching, especially in complex subjects such as the Autonomic Nervous System, has limitations due to the paucity of clinical practice. This research evaluated the impact of virtual simulation as a didactic strategy in the learning of clinical pharmacology in medical students. The objective was to determine the effectiveness of virtual simulation in the teaching-learning process and to analyse student perception of its use. Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest was applied in two groups: experimental (35 students) and control (25 students), belonging to the fifth semester of Medicine at the National University of Chimborazo. The experimental group used the Rat Cardiovascular System simulator, while the control group received traditional classes. In addition, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was applied to measure the students’ perception. The results showed statistically significant differences (p=0.014) in favour of the experimental group in the post-test, showing a better academic performance. Likewise, the students showed a high level of acceptance of the simulator, highlighting its ease of use, usefulness and willingness to use it in future educational experiences. It is concluded that virtual simulation is an effective strategy to improve the learning of clinical pharmacology, facilitating the understanding of complex contents and strengthening the learning process.