Using a World Health Assembly simulation to explore undergraduate students’ perceptions and confidence in analyzing complex global health challenges: A mixed-methods evaluation

TL;DR

This study explores how a global health simulation boosts undergraduate students' confidence in tackling complex health challenges through experiential learning.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel mixed-methods evaluation of a World Health Assembly simulation's impact on student confidence and learning in global health education.

Findings

Participants reported increased confidence in skills like research, critical analysis, and leadership.

Students gained a deeper appreciation of complex global health issues through the simulation.

The simulation provided career-relevant insights and supported reflective learning.

Abstract

Traditional didactic teaching approaches fall short of adequately supporting diverse student learning styles. Complementing didactic teaching approaches with simulation-based experiential learning can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application. However, few studies have rigorously examined the outcomes of this approach in global health education and training. This study describes participants’ self-reported experiences with the World Health Assembly Simulation (WHA SIM), a complex hybrid simulation consisting of a three-day educational exercise, including a tabletop exercise followed by live-action role play, designed to simulate practical global health governance settings. We conducted a descriptive, sequential exploratory study between September 2022 and July 2023, beginning with an anonymous pre-simulation survey among undergraduate students in the Faculty of Health at York University, followed by qualitative post-simulation interviews. The survey included questions on participants’ background, comfort, and confidence in key practice skills and experiences with simulation-based learning. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and a framework analysis for qualitative data. Among 39 survey respondents, 18 were interviewed. Participants for interviews were selected through snowball sampling to ensure diverse perspectives. Participants reported feeling more confident in a range of skills, including research capabilities, critical analysis, time management, and organizational effectiveness. They also described increased confidence in interpersonal communication, public speaking, networking, collaboration, and leadership. Several participants reflected on gaining a deeper appreciation of complex global health issues and noted the simulation provided valuable career-relevant insights. Findings highlight the value of simulation-based experiential learning as perceived by undergraduate students in health and science-related degree programs. While this study does not objectively measure knowledge acquisition or skill mastery, it illustrates how the WHA SIM can support confidence and reflective learning in global health education and training contexts.

Figures