Creation and Evaluation of a Cesarean Section Simulator Training Program for Novice Obstetric Surgeons
Lisa M Foglia1, Allison A Eubanks2, Logan C Peterson2
1Maternal Fetal Medicine, Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, USA.
Cureus
|October 14, 2020
Summary
Simulation-based training significantly improved cesarean section and hemorrhage management skills for surgical residents. This approach enhances procedural competency while minimizing patient risk.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Simulation
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
Background:
- Evaluating a novel simulation-based training program for cesarean section and hemorrhage management.
- Assessing critical techniques in obstetric emergencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of simulation-based training in improving cesarean section and hemorrhage management skills.
- To compare task-trainer based training with didactic education alone.
Main Methods:
- Prospective educational intervention with Institutional Review Board approval.
- Recruitment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, and General Surgery residents.
- Randomization into a task-trainer intervention group and a control group, followed by high-fidelity simulation evaluation.
Main Results:
- The intervention group (didactic + task-trainer) scored significantly higher in cesarean delivery (p=0.007), hemorrhage management (p=0.0002), and overall skill (p=0.008).
- 14 residents in the intervention group and 19 in the control group participated.
- No significant differences were observed in other evaluated categories.
Conclusions:
- Simulation-based training, combining didactic education and task-trainers, significantly enhances procedural skills for cesarean sections and hemorrhage management.
- This training method allows trainees to gain procedural experience in a safe, simulated environment, ultimately decreasing patient risk.
