Confidence in performing normal vaginal delivery in the obstetrics clerkship: a randomized trial of two simulators.

Objective: To compare clerkship medical students' confidence in performing a simulated normal vaginal delivery (NVD) after participating in a simulation training session using two different models.

Methods: Medical students were randomized to participate in a simulated NVD session using either an obstetrics mannequin or a birthing pelvis model. Questionnaires were used to assess confidence and evaluate the simulation before and immediately after the session and on the last day of the obstetrics clerkship rotation.

Results: One hundred ten students were randomized. At the start of the clerkship, both groups had similar obstetrics exposure and confidence levels. Only 15 students (13.9%) agreed they were ready to attempt a NVD with minimal supervision or independently. This increased significantly to 43 students (39.4%) immediately after the session. At the end of the clerkship, 79 of 81 responding students (97.5%) were confident that they could attempt a NVD with minimal supervision or independently. There were no significant differences noted between simulator groups at any point. The sessions were rated as equally useful and realistic, and this remained unchanged at the end of the clerkship.

Conclusion: Simulated NVD training using either an obstetrics mannequin or a birthing pelvis model provides clerkship students with a positive experience and increases confidence immediately. It should be implemented early in the rotation, as it appears the clerkship experience also plays a large role in terms of students' confidence. Despite this, students maintain this type of learning is useful. Effective simulation training can easily be incorporated into clerkship training.