Educational effects of a clinical diagnosis simulation training program based on Basic Physiology of Vital Signs (BPVS) for pharmacy and medical students

Abstract

The physical assessment of vital signs and related parameters has recently been introduced into the curriculum of many pharmacy schools throughout Japan. To utilize the acquired skills in actual clinical settings, an accurate clinical assessment of a patient’s condition is essential. In the present study, pharmacy and medical students completed for the first time a Basic Physiology of Vital Signs (BPVS) program, which is a basic-level course in the Clinical Physiology of Vital Signs program developed for medical residency, and the educational outcomes among students were evaluated. Both groups of students acquired in repeated trials the ability to perform collection, handling, and evaluation of clinical information in a limited time while considering various clinical priorities based on their developing knowledge. This finding suggests that the BPVS program is an effective learning method for pharmacy and medical students that facilitates clinical diagnosis.