Developing a simulation-based learning model for acute medical education during COVID-19 pandemic with Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA).

Simulation-based learning (SBL) is well-established in medical education and has gained popularity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when in-person teaching is infeasible. SBL replicates real-life scenarios and provides a fully immersive yet safe learning environment to develop clinical competency. Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) is an exemplar of SBL, which we previously showed to be effective in endocrinology and diabetes.

SIMBA: using Kolb's learning theory in simulation-based learning to improve participants' confidence.

Background: Simulation via Instant Messaging- Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) delivers simulation-based learning (SBL) through WhatsApp® and Zoom® based on Kolb's experiential learning theory. This study describes how Kolb's theory was implemented in practice during SIMBA adrenal session.

Methods: SIMBA adrenal session was conducted for healthcare professionals and replicated Kolb's 4-stage cycle: (a) concrete experience-online simulation of real-life clinical scenarios, (b) reflective observation-discussion and Q&A following simulation, (c) abstract conceptualisation-post-session MCQs, and (d) active experimentation-intentions to implement the acquired knowledge in future practice.

Utility of Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) in medical education during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Simulation via Instant Messaging - Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) aimed to improve clinicians' confidence in managing various clinical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Five SIMBA sessions were conducted between May and August 2020. Each session included simulation of scenarios and interactive discussion.

SIMBA as an alternative and/or an adjunct to pre-medical work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Work experience is considered as a vital part of an application to medical school and other healthcare-related educational programmes. Gaining clinical work experience via various previously available opportunities from healthcare centres has currently become more challenging and less accessible due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related limitations and resource shortages. In order to provide experience in the healthcare field, we conducted a case study by inviting two secondary school students to participate in Simulation via Instant Messaging -Birmingham Advance (SIMBA) as moderators.

Neurological updates: neurological complications of CAR-T therapy.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing T cells now offer an effective treatment option for people with previously refractory B cell malignancies and are under development for a wide range of other tumours. However, neurological toxicity is a common complication of CAR-T cell therapy, seen in over 50% of recipients in some cohorts. Since 2018, the term immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) has been used to describe and grade neurotoxicity seen after CAR-T cells and other similar therapies.