Simulator training in focus assessed transthoracic echocardiography (FATE) for undergraduate medical students: results from the FateSim randomized controlled trial

This study looks at the best way to teach medical students how to use ultrasound to examine the heart. It compares training on a simulator with training on real people to see which method helps students learn the skills better. The results showed that while both methods improved students' skills, those trained on simulators didn't perform as well when they had to examine real people. This suggests that simulators are helpful, but training on real patients is still essential. Students also felt that simulators could be a good addition to training on real people, but shouldn't replace it. The study suggests that the best approach may be a mix of both methods to give students the most realistic and effective learning experience.

• 1
  Both simulator- and human-based training effectively developed theoretical and practical skills in FATE.
• 2
  The simulator group demonstrated significantly poorer performance when applying their skills to human subjects.
• 3
  Participants supported simulators as a supplement to, but not a replacement for, human training.