Program Evaluation on a Pre-clerkship Course Implementing Simulation in Korean Medical Education

Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) emphasizes developing practical clinical skills beyond theoretical knowledge, yet students in clerkships often face limited opportunities to directly engage with patients due to concerns about safety, privacy, and ethics. These constraints can leave graduates insufficiently prepared for clinical practice. Although Korean medicine education has adopted performance assessments such as CPX and OSCE, simulation-based training remains underdeveloped. This study evaluated the educational experience and satisfaction of students participating in a digital clinical simulation curriculum at Pusan National University School of Korean Medicine. The program comprised three modules: structured history-taking for dizziness patients, physical examination with simulators, and patient education through peer role-play. Fifteen students in clinical preparatory stages participated, and post-training online surveys assessed satisfaction with the program, perceived usefulness for clinical clerkship preparation, and feedback on each training component. Thirteen students responded (86.7% response rate). Overall satisfaction was high, with 84.6% reporting improved readiness for clerkship. Simulators were valued for providing comprehensive vital signs and pathological findings, while role-play enhanced communication skills. Students highlighted structured content and practical learning opportunities but noted the short duration and limited practice with traditional procedures as drawbacks. In conclusion, Digital clinical simulation combining simulators and role-play was perceived by students as a useful approach to enhance their clinical competence and confidence prior to real patient encounters, particularly in contexts where patient access is limited. Future development should expand skills training, extend program duration, and establish standardized examinations, with multi-center studies recommended to confirm and generalize these findings.