biostudies-literatureUnknown20(1)Houghton N<h4>Background</h4>In May 2020, first-year students at Imperial College School of Medicine attended a 'digital hospital placement'. Occurring in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, this replaced their first planned hospital placement. The authors analysed student experiences to understand how a digital hospital placement impacted self-perceived clinical and professional development and whether it improved preparedness for face-to-face hospital placements.<h4>Methods</h4>Three hundred ten students participated in this week-long digital placement, which integrated clinical skills, communication and professional behaviour domains. It aimed to prepare students for safe participation in clinical environments. Resources included self-directed and peer learning, virtual simulations (Oxford Medical Simulation) and staff-led debriefing. Surveys were administered after the digital placement and after students' first face-to-face placement to collect quantitative and qualitative data. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted.<h4>Results</h4>Eighty-three and twenty-nine students completed the postdigital and post-face-to-face placement evaluation respectively. Quantitative results indicated a high self-rated achievement of learning objectives and enthusiasm for digital placements; 83% of respondents supported digital simulations as part of regular medical education. Qualitative analysis identified three superordinate themes: (1) domain integration in digital placements helped students feel better prepared; (2) digital experiential learning is ideally suited to early clinical learning; and (3) virtual placements are a compliment, not an alternative, to face-to-face placements.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Digital placements are a promising means of supporting the challenging transition from classroom learner to clinical learner. They provide a feasible and scalable option for building student confidence and improving preparedness.The clinical teachere13558https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10108031biostudies-literatureDigital clinical placements: Student perspectives and preparedness for placements.PMC10108031Baptista ADharmarajah AWilliams LThakerar VHoughton NfalseDigital clinical placements: Student perspectives and preparedness for placements.<h4>Background</h4>In May 2020, first-year students at Imperial College School of Medicine attended a 'digital hospital placement'. Occurring in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, this replaced their first planned hospital placement. The authors analysed student experiences to understand how a digital hospital placement impacted self-perceived clinical and professional development and whether it improved preparedness for face-to-face hospital placements.<h4>Methods</h4>Three hundred ten students participated in this week-long digital placement, which integrated clinical skills, communication and professional behaviour domains. It aimed to prepare students for safe participation in clinical environments. Resources included self-directed and peer learning, virtual simulations (Oxford Medical Simulation) and staff-led debriefing. Surveys were administered after the digital placement and after students' first face-to-face placement to collect quantitative and qualitative data. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted.<h4>Results</h4>Eighty-three and twenty-nine students completed the postdigital and post-face-to-face placement evaluation respectively. Quantitative results indicated a high self-rated achievement of learning objectives and enthusiasm for digital placements; 83% of respondents supported digital simulations as part of regular medical education. Qualitative analysis identified three superordinate themes: (1) domain integration in digital placements helped students feel better prepared; (2) digital experiential learning is ideally suited to early clinical learning; and (3) virtual placements are a compliment, not an alternative, to face-to-face placements.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Digital placements are a promising means of supporting the challenging transition from classroom learner to clinical learner. They provide a feasible and scalable option for building student confidence and improving preparedness.2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2025-04-26T04:58:00.7Z2025-04-06T11:22:17.801ZS-EPMC101080313659929310.1111/tct.13558