Education Research: Junior Neurology Residents Achieve Competency but Not Mastery After a Brief Acute Ischemic Stroke Simulation Course.

Background and Objectives: Simulation bootcamps are used to onboard neurology trainees. It is not known whether these bootcamps result in competency for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: For this prospective, single-center pre-post educational intervention study, the Angoff standard setting method was used to determine a Minimum Passing Score (MPS) and Mastery Score for 2 AIS simulations. Junior neurology residents completed precourse knowledge and confidence assessments and had traditional didactic teaching. A week later, each resident completed the first scored AIS simulation. Each resident then practiced stroke care in an unscored simulation. Two to 8 weeks later, each resident was evaluated in an unannounced AIS simulation (the post-test). Postgraduate year (PGY)-3 adult neurology senior residents also completed a knowledge and confidence assessment and were scored on just the AIS post-test case. Using independent and paired Results: Thirteen junior residents (9 PGY-2 adult neurology residents and 4 PGY-3 child neurology residents) participated in the course. Only 3 junior residents (23%) initially achieved the MPS in the first AIS simulation. After the simulation course, 9 junior residents (69%) achieved the MPS threshold. Although none achieved mastery, junior residents' mean performance score in the simulation improved (mean score preintervention [SD] = 10.3 [2.8] vs mean score postintervention [SD] = 15.7 [2.6], Discussion: A brief AIS simulation course may improve junior residents' performance and confidence to a level comparable with senior residents, although not to mastery.