Acute Ischemic Priapism Management: An Educational and Simulation Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Medical Education Simulation

Background:

• Ischemic priapism is a urologic emergency requiring prompt management by various healthcare providers.
• Effective provider education is crucial due to the rarity and time-sensitive nature of ischemic priapism.
• There is a need for accessible, low-cost educational tools for priapism management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a low-cost, reproducible simulation model and curriculum for ischemic priapism management.
• To enhance the education and confidence of medical trainees in managing priapism.

Main Methods:

• A didactic curriculum based on national guidelines was created.
• A low-cost ($1.25) priapism simulator was developed using readily available materials (hot dogs, candy).
• The curriculum and simulator were piloted with urology residents and a medical student, with feedback collected on validity and usefulness.

Main Results:

• Cognitive test scores improved by an average of 15.0% (p = .002).
• 88.9% of participants reported increased confidence after the curriculum.
• The simulator was rated easy to use (4.78/5) and useful for training (4.00/5), with 77.8% recommending its integration into residency programs.

Conclusions:

• The developed simulation curriculum is effective, inexpensive, and easily reproducible.
• This model is suitable for institutions with limited resources.
• Expanding access to simulation-based priapism education can improve trainee preparedness.