Educational impact of a simulation-based renal biopsy workshop for medical students during nephrology clerkship

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous renal biopsy is essential for diagnosing kidney disease. It is invasive and requires technical training to ensure patient safety. Simulation-based education is increasingly used to teach invasive procedures and minimize patient risk. However, most renal biopsy simulation studies focus on residents rather than undergraduate medical students. We evaluated the educational effectiveness of a renal biopsy simulation workshop during a nephrology clinical clerkship. METHODS: This prospective educational study enrolled fifth-year medical students (n = 113) who participated in a nephrology clinical clerkship at Okayama University between January 2023 and January 2024. The students attended a renal biopsy simulation workshop that included a short lecture, peer ultrasound practice, and hands-on workshop with a renal biopsy simulator. We assessed educational outcomes using anonymous pre- and post-workshop questionnaires that evaluated knowledge, confidence, and educational satisfaction. RESULTS: Before the workshop, only 4.5% of students had observed a renal biopsy. Following the workshop, students reported significantly improved knowledge of renal biopsy procedures. The median proportion of the renal biopsy procedure that students felt capable of performing increased from 0% (IQR 0-5) before the workshop to 70% (IQR 70-80) after the workshop (p < 0.0001). Post-workshop evaluations showed high educational satisfaction: nearly all students reported a better understanding of needle biopsy techniques and greater motivation for learning. CONCLUSIONS: A simulation-based renal biopsy workshop significantly improved medical students' self-reported knowledge and confidence in performing renal biopsies. Students reported high educational satisfaction with the workshop. A simulation-based workshop with a durable renal biopsy simulator may provide a practical and scalable approach for teaching invasive procedures in undergraduate medical education.