Pandemic Preparedness at Wexham Park Hospital, 2025-2026

Vella, Miguel (2026). Pandemic Preparedness at Wexham Park Hospital, 2025-2026. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-858306

Background

Recent infectious disease outbreaks have underscored the importance of preparing future doctors to respond to complex public health emergencies. However, undergraduate medical training often prioritises individual clinical decision-making, with fewer opportunities for students to engage with outbreak response as a system-level challenge involving epidemiology, public health coordination, and policy considerations. Educational approaches that allow students to practise these skills in realistic contexts remain limited.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the educational impact of a simulation-based outbreak programme designed to support undergraduate medical students’ confidence and understanding of infectious disease outbreak management, compared with a traditional didactic teaching approach.

Methods

A mixed-methods educational evaluation was conducted among undergraduate medical students from four UK medical schools during clinical placements at a district general hospital. Students participated either in a structured outbreak simulation (n = 61) or in a previously established didactic teaching session covering the same curricular content (n = 20). The simulation involved five evolving outbreak scenarios based on high-consequence pathogens and required students to assume different professional roles while interpreting clinical information, epidemiological data, and public health constraints. Self-reported confidence was measured using a retrospective post–then–pre questionnaire on a 10-point Likert scale. Qualitative data were collected through written reflections and facilitated debriefing.

Data description (abstract)

This dataset contains quantitative and qualitative data collected as part of an educational evaluation of two approaches to teaching infectious disease outbreak management to undergraduate medical students. The population comprises MBBS students from multiple UK medical schools who were undertaking clinical placements at a district general hospital during the study period.

Participants attended either a simulation-based outbreak teaching session or a didactic teaching session covering the same curricular topics. The simulation involved five fictional outbreak scenarios based on high-consequence pathogens and required students to engage with clinical information, epidemiological data, and public health decision-making tasks. The didactic session was delivered prior to implementation of the simulation and represented the standard teaching format used at the time.

Quantitative data include retrospective ratings of perceived confidence before and after the teaching session, measured using a 10-point Likert scale. Confidence outcomes relate to the management of infectious disease outbreaks and the selection of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Qualitative data consist of brief written reflections and summary themes derived from facilitated debriefing discussions.

The dataset has been fully anonymised and contains no direct or indirect identifiers. It is intended to support transparency, secondary analysis, and reuse in educational research examining simulation-based learning, outbreak preparedness, and undergraduate medical education.

Data creators:

Creator Name	Affiliation	ORCID (as URL)
Vella Miguel	Frimley Park NHS Foundation Trust

Sponsors:

N/A

Topic classification:

Health
Education

Keywords:

PUBLIC HEALTH, HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION, EPIDEMIOLOGY, EDUCATION, HEALTH

Project title:

Pandemic Preparedness at Wexham Park Hospital

Project dates:

From	To
1 January 2025	1 January 2026

Date published:

09 Feb 2026 17:18

Last modified:

09 Feb 2026 17:18

Coverage and Methodology

Collection period:

Date from:	Date to:
1 January 2025	1 January 2026

Geographical area:

Wexham Park Hospital, Slough

Country:

United Kingdom

Data collection method:

Data were collected during scheduled teaching sessions delivered to undergraduate medical students during their clinical placements at a district general hospital. Teaching sessions were integrated into existing timetables and attendance was voluntary. Data collection occurred at the conclusion of each teaching session.

Quantitative data were obtained using a structured questionnaire administered after the teaching activity. Participants were asked to retrospectively rate their perceived level of confidence prior to the session and their confidence following the session using a 10-point Likert scale. The questionnaire focused on confidence related to infectious disease outbreak management and antimicrobial decision-making.

Qualitative data were gathered through brief written responses submitted by participants and through facilitated group discussions held immediately after the teaching session. Facilitators summarised key discussion points to capture participants’ reflections on the learning experience. No audio or video recordings were made.

All responses were collected anonymously and were not linked to academic assessment or progression. Data were stored securely and prepared for analysis following removal of any potentially identifying information.

Observation unit:

Individual

Kind of data:

Numeric, Text

Type of data:

Experimental data

Resource language:

English

Access and Administration