Development of a Cost-Effective and High-Fidelity Gel Model for Peripheral Ultrasound-Guided Intravenous Access...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• Current ultrasound-guided intravenous (IV) access simulation models are often complex and costly.
• There is a need for more accessible and realistic training tools in medical education.
• Limitations in current models hinder effective skill refinement, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a cost-effective, advanced gelatin model for ultrasound-guided IV access training.
• To compare the efficacy of the novel gel model against a commercial model.
• To assess the impact of the advanced model on participants' confidence and skill acquisition.

Main Methods:

• A controlled study involving 12 medical students with limited ultrasound experience was conducted.
• Participants used both a novel advanced gelatin model and a commercial Blue Phantom™ model for IV catheter placement.
• Confidence levels were assessed using a pre- and post-training Likert scale survey, with data analyzed via paired t-test (p <0.05).

Main Results:

• The advanced gelatin model demonstrated a statistically significant increase in participants' skill confidence (p = 0.004).
• Participants reported over a 4-point higher confidence level using the advanced model compared to the commercial one.
• The model's realistic vasculature modeling proved effective for users of all experience levels.

Conclusions:

• The proposed advanced gelatin model significantly enhances confidence in ultrasound-guided peripheral IV access training.
• Its cost-effectiveness and adaptability make it a viable alternative to expensive commercial models.
• This innovation has the potential to improve proficiency and reduce training costs in medical education.