Advancing health equity through simulation-based education for pre-health students

Introduction: Basic sciences are foundational for a career in the health professions. However, interest in the sciences wanes as students in the United States progress through K-12 education and reaches a nadir in the undergraduate years; this decline is particularly marked in underrepresented communities. In addition, difficulty in basic sciences may present as a barrier to entering the health professions. This study examines clinical simulation as an adjunct to lectures for promoting pre-health students’ understanding, retention, and recall of the basic sciences as well as the feasibility and acceptability of this approach. Methods: This study used a pretest/posttest design. Data collection occurred from March 2025 to August 2025. Following a traditional lecture, simulation was conducted on the following scenarios: malignant hyperthermia, opioid overdose, stroke, and cardiac emergency. Students assumed different roles within a healthcare team, allowing for checklist assessment of knowledge acquisition and decision-making abilities in a controlled setting. Written 20 item pre-simulation and post-simulation assessment data were analyzed descriptively and with t-tests to assess learning. Surveys and qualitative analysis from oral and written comments were used to assess acceptability and feasibility of simulation as an educational tool. Results: Clinical simulation participants included 43 pre-health students. There was a mean increase in written test scores following simulation, demonstrating significantly higher performance immediately after the simulation and 3 months later (M1 = 10.4 vs M2 = 16.4; p