A Novel Transvaginal Cervical Cerclage Model for Resident Training

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Vaginal suturing, particularly cervical cerclage, presents teaching challenges due to limited visualization.
• Data on resident training and comfort with cerclage placement models are scarce.
• Effective simulation models are needed to improve surgical skills and resident confidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess learner satisfaction with a novel simulation model for transvaginal cervical cerclage placement.
• To evaluate the impact of the model on resident comfort and perceived need for further training.
• To determine the effectiveness of a hands-on simulation in improving skills for cerclage procedures.

Main Methods:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology residents participated in a 1-hour lecture and hands-on simulation using a novel cerclage model.
• Pre- and post-simulation surveys assessed resident satisfaction, comfort, and perceived training needs.
• Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze survey data.

Main Results:

• Ninety-five percent of residents had no prior cerclage simulation training; 60% had practical experience.
• Post-simulation, residents reported significantly decreased need for further training (p=.024) and increased comfort (p<.001).
• Comfort with cerclage placement with decreasing supervision also significantly increased (p=.021), with 90% finding the procedure easy to learn.

Conclusions:

• A novel, low-cost simulation model with full visualization significantly enhances resident comfort and satisfaction with cervical cerclage placement.
• The simulation training effectively improved residents' confidence in performing cerclage procedures.
• Further research should investigate the long-term impact of this training on clinical skills and patient outcomes.