MUSCULOSKELETAL SHORT CASE SIMULATIONS FOR FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

Musculoskeletal (MSK) complaints comprise up to 30% of primary care visits. Despite this, MSK curriculum vary widely between institutions, and there is little consistency in how physicians in training are prepared to treat MSK disorders (1). The COVID pandemic has compounded the paucity of knowledge for learners in this area, and many learners reported feeling unprepared for practice due to the abrupt cessation in their training (2). Strategies to optimize learning of MSK conditions to prepare learners for real-world clinical encounters would be useful at various levels and disciplines within healthcare (3). To address this need, twenty case simulations of fifteen-minute duration were developed specifically for frontline healthcare providers. The purpose of this project was to test a proof-of-concept educational module for improving frontline health care providers' ability to identify and manage MSK complaints and refer to subspecialty care as needed. These educational experiences will be further developed into a formal curriculum and offered to individuals in virtual format who are positioned to see patients as front-line health care providers. Twenty topics identified from a previously validated curriculum for MSK conditions were selected. The cases spanned topics including Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Infection, and Spine (Figure 1). An authentic clinical scenario was used for each of the 20 MSK case simulations and developed to reflect a real-world presentation. This focused on key aspects of history, physical examination, investigations, initial management, and referral to subspecialty care if needed. Case simulations were created in PowerPoint format and designed to not exceed 15 minutes in duration. Participants considered to be frontline healthcare providers for MSK conditions were invited to complete all case simulations. Along with each case simulation, participants were asked to complete a demographics questionnaire, five pre- and post-case simulation questions based on the objectives, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were computed using paired t-tests and Chronbach Alpha for internal consistency. Fifty-seven participants completed 950 modules. Participants were residents from emergency medicine, family medicine, and orthopaedic surgery programs and also included advance practice providers, physiotherapists, and medical students. All participants showed a significant statistical improvement when comparing post to pre-test knowledge scores (p Ninety-eight percent of participants ranked high satisfaction with the modules and reported subjective benefit to their learning. All participants reported that they would refer this learning tool to a colleague. Online interactive MSK case simulations may be a useful learning tool for various frontline healthcare provider groups. Despite clear knowledge improvements in participants, future studies will determine how the use of this educational tool will impact patient care delivery. For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly.