Simulation-based teaching versus point-of-care teaching for identification of basic transoesophageal echocardiography...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) use is rising in anesthesia and intensive care.
• Effective training methods are crucial for novices to master TEE imaging planes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare simulation-based versus theatre-based teaching for TEE imaging.
• To assess the impact on identifying cardiac anatomy and trainee satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-two echocardiography-naïve subjects were randomized into simulation-based or theatre-based groups.
• Pre- and post-intervention video tests assessed knowledge of 20 standard TEE planes.
• Knowledge acquisition and performance in post-intervention tests were compared between groups.

Main Results:

• Both groups improved post-intervention knowledge (p < 0.001).
• The simulation-based group significantly outperformed the theatre-based group in post-intervention tests (p = 0.0002).
• Pre-test scores showed no significant difference between groups (p = 0.52).

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based teaching is superior to theatre-based teaching for novice TEE training.
• Simulation enhances the ability to identify cardiac anatomy using standard TEE views.
• This training modality shows promise for improving TEE proficiency in critical care settings.