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AMPATH surgical app: Low-cost simulator for the open appendectomy
Joshua Matthews1, Manisha B Bhatia2, Christopher Thomas2
1School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN.
Surgery
|September 19, 2022
Summary
A low-cost surgical simulator and skills curriculum were developed to train doctors in performing open appendectomies, improving surgical education in resource-limited areas.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Simulation
- Global Surgery
Background:
- Kenya faces a shortage and maldistribution of surgeons.
- Doctors with limited training often perform emergency procedures like appendectomy.
- This impacts patient outcomes and care delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a low-cost simulator and skills curriculum.
- To effectively teach open appendectomy to healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- Cognitive task analysis with surgeons from 4 countries defined appendectomy technique.
- A curriculum and simulator were developed by the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare surgical team.
- Surgeons and trainees in Kenya and the US tested and refined the simulator prototype.
Main Results:
- A self-constructed simulator was developed for 70 Kenyan shillings ($0.64 USD).
- The curriculum received high clarity scores (median ≥83.5/100).
- Iterative design improved the simulator's utility based on feedback.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive open appendectomy curriculum and low-cost simulator were created and refined.
- This training model can benefit trainees in low-resource settings with limited access to quality materials.
