Teaching invasive prenatal procedures: effectiveness of two simple simulators in training
Anne-Gael Cordier1, Florent Fuchs2, Mikael Tassin3,4
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, AP-HP Antoine Béclère Hospital, Univ Paris-Sud, Clamart, France. anne-gael.cordier@abc.aphp.fr.
Prenatal Diagnosis
|July 22, 2016
Summary
Simple simulators effectively train physicians in invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis. Training showed significant score improvements, especially for those with less initial experience.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Medical Simulation
Background:
- Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis are key invasive prenatal diagnostic methods.
- Training in these procedures is crucial for physician competency.
- Effectiveness of training simulators for invasive procedures was investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of two novel, affordable simulators in training physicians for invasive prenatal diagnostic procedures.
- To assess the impact of simulator training on the technical proficiency of residents and specialists.
Main Methods:
- Development of two simple, low-cost simulators modeling maternal abdominal anatomy and tissue layers.
- Pre- and post-training assessments of physician performance using a standardized technical quality score.
- Analysis of score improvements as a percentage of pre-test scores.
Main Results:
- Both residents and specialists demonstrated significant improvements in amniocentesis and CVS performance after simulator training.
- Residents showed an 80% improvement in amniocentesis and 100% in CVS.
- Specialists with less prior experience in CVS and amniocentesis showed greater score increases post-training.
Conclusions:
- Simple, affordable simulators are effective tools for enhancing physician skills in invasive prenatal procedures.
- Simulator training is particularly beneficial for physicians with limited initial experience.
- The study highlights the value of simulation in medical education for invasive techniques.
