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Making models to simulate testicular swellings
Piyush B Sarmah1, Bhupendra D Sarmah2, Husam Ibrahim2
1Clinical Teaching Academy, Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
The Clinical Teacher
|February 3, 2017
Summary
Handmade scrotal swelling models offer a cost-effective, practical solution for teaching testicular examination skills to medical students. These models proved more beneficial than traditional methods for recognizing common scrotal pathologies.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Medical Education
- Anatomy
Background:
- Testicular examination is a crucial clinical skill for undergraduates.
- Teaching this skill is challenging due to its intimate nature.
- Novel handmade models offer a potential solution for anatomical and clinical skills training.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate low-cost, handmade models for teaching scrotal pathologies.
- To assess the effectiveness of these models compared to traditional methods for undergraduate medical education.
Main Methods:
- Six affordable models were created to replicate common scrotal pathologies (e.g., epididymal cyst, testicular tumour).
- Undergraduate medical students used these models for testicular examination training.
- A post-session evaluation compared student experiences with handmade models versus a rubber manikin.
Main Results:
- 83.3% of participants found handmade models more beneficial than the rubber manikin.
- 81.8% would recommend the models for training in testicular examination.
- Students preferred the models for their variety of pathologies and diagnostic features.
Conclusions:
- Handmade scrotal swelling models are a cost-effective teaching aid for urology departments.
- These models enhance the practical teaching of testicular examination and recognition of scrotal swellings.
- They reduce the reliance on examining real patients, mitigating issues of intimacy and dependency.