Improving Nasopharyngeal Swab Technique via Simulation for Frontline Workers.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Infectious Disease Control
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Nasopharyngeal swabs are crucial for COVID-19 diagnosis but require specific skills.
• Increased testing volume has led to less experienced personnel performing swabs, risking accuracy and patient safety.
• Improper technique can result in false-negative results and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a realistic 3D-printed nasal swab simulator for training healthcare workers.
• To assess the simulator's effectiveness in improving skill acquisition for nasopharyngeal swabbing.
• To determine the educational value and procedural fidelity of the nasal swab task trainer (NSTT).

Main Methods:

• A prospective pre-post interventional study design was employed.
• A 3D-printed nasal swab task trainer (NSTT), modeled from CT data, was developed.
• Frontline healthcare workers at COVID-19 testing sites received training using the NSTT, with integrated self-evaluation capabilities.

Main Results:

• Seventy-seven percent of participants showed improved self-assessed accuracy after using the NSTT.
• 100% of participants with initially low confidence reported increased accuracy.
• 94% found the NSTT provided a complete educational experience, with 82% deeming it superior to current methods.

Conclusions:

• The 3D-printed nasal swab task trainer is an effective tool for enhancing healthcare worker skills in COVID-19 testing.
• The simulator demonstrates potential for improving procedural accuracy and confidence.
• The NSTT may be applicable for training in other nasal swab procedures beyond COVID-19 testing.