Study explores simulation’s role in preclinical veterinary training

Simulation-based training may help veterinary students build core preclinical skills before they reach live-animal settings. In a new paper in Veterinary Sciences, researchers Paz Galarza-Alvarado, Diana Patricia Moya-Loaiza, and Fernando Ramonet described a low-cost teaching workflow built around a real canine cranial tumor case, virtual planning, and a 3D-printed skull model. Fourteen veterinary students were split into two instructional conditions: one received traditional theory-based teaching with cadaveric material, while the other used the simulation-supported model. The authors report that students in the simulation group showed stronger three-dimensional anatomical exploration, more case-based anatomical-surgical discussion, and high perceived usefulness, engagement, and academic confidence. (mdpi.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals involved in training, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that simulation can help close the gap between classroom anatomy and clinical reasoning, especially in areas where spatial understanding is hard to teach with 2D images alone. Prior veterinary education research has found that immersive simulation can improve student comfort with procedures such as cytology sampling, while other recent studies suggest blended simulator-based teaching can improve confidence and OSCE performance in skills like calving management. Broader reviews in veterinary education also note that simulation is increasingly valuable because it offers repeatable practice in a controlled setting, even though validation and real-world transfer still need stronger evidence. (mdpi.com)

What to watch: The next question is whether small descriptive studies like this one lead to larger, comparative trials that measure whether simulation-trained students perform better in later clinical rotations and day-one practice. (mdpi.com)