Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Simulation-based training has become an established component of postgraduate medical education and is now recognised as a curricular standard. Traditional simulation learning, however, predominantly involves practical skill training and often require extensive onsite infrastructure, significant resourceful setup.

Objective: We aimed to adapt the core principles of simulation-based learning to a digital format, enabling accessible training of general clinical skills in resource-efficient postgraduate training in endocrinology.

Methods: We developed and piloted EndocrineDigiSim, a series of digital endocrine consultation simulations for postgraduate students enrolled in the MSc Endocrinology and Diabetes program at Queen Mary University of London. Each session involved an active participant, a real-life patient, peer observers, an invigilator, and a feedback reviewer. Simulated consultations, both new patient and follow-up, focused on various presentations of acromegaly and were conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams. Sessions aimed to recreate realistic clinical encounters in a non-procedural specialty, fostering the development of clinical reasoning and communication skills. Feedback was provided verbally, in writing, and via recorded summaries to encourage reflective practice. Knowledge was assessed pre- and post-session, and participants completed structured feedback forms.

Results: Participants reported high satisfaction with the digital simulation format, citing enhanced engagement, learning retention, and accessibility. Preliminary assessments indicated knowledge improvement following participation. Patients involved in the simulations also provided positive feedback regarding the experience.

Conclusion: EndocrineDigiSim demonstrates that digital simulation training is a feasible, effective, and resource-efficient approach to postgraduate endocrine education. Accessible technology enables the delivery of high-quality experiential learning to broader audiences, reducing the financial and logistical demands of conventional onsite simulation.