Telepresent mechanical ventilation training versus traditional instruction: a simulation-based pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Cardiopulmonary Physiology
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Mechanical ventilation requires deep understanding of cardiopulmonary systems and equipment.
• Effective training methods for mechanical ventilation are crucial for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of telepresent faculty versus traditional in-person instruction for teaching mechanical ventilation to medical students.
• To evaluate telementoring as a viable educational tool for ventilator management.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving medical students instructed via in-person or telementoring methods.
• Effectiveness assessed through pre- and post-tests, confidence surveys, and simulation scenarios.
• Faculty debriefing evaluated using the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare Student Version (DASH-SV).

Main Results:

• Both in-person and telementoring groups showed significant improvements in confidence, knowledge, and performance.
• In-person learners exhibited slightly greater gains in confidence and knowledge.
• Both teaching methods were rated as effective by students, despite a preference for in-person instruction.

Conclusions:

• Telementoring is a viable method for teaching mechanical ventilation fundamentals.
• This approach is particularly useful for institutions lacking readily available content experts.
• Further research may explore optimizing telementoring to overcome potential technological challenges.