Development and Evaluation of a Bariatric Mannequin Simulation System.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nursing Simulation

Background:

• Physical assessment of obese patients is crucial for identifying health issues and monitoring treatment.
• Current bariatric simulation mannequins lack functional design, realistic appearance, and comprehensive assessment capabilities.
• Simulation-based education is vital for teaching physical assessment skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative bariatric mannequin simulation system with an integrated educational curriculum.
• To address the limitations of existing bariatric simulation mannequins in healthcare education.
• To assess the usability and effectiveness of a prototype bariatric mannequin for teaching physical assessment.

Main Methods:

• Development of a bariatric mannequin with programmable electronics and an associated curriculum of seven case scenarios.
• Evaluation of a prototype mannequin by 10 nursing faculty and 51 nursing and medical students using Likert-scale questionnaires.
• Incorporation of participant feedback for product refinement, focusing on realistic appearance.

Main Results:

• The majority of faculty (60%) and students (70%+) found the bariatric mannequin innovative, engaging, user-friendly, useful, and effective for learning.
• Satisfaction ratings were similar between faculty and student participants.
• Participant feedback led to improvements in the mannequin's realistic appearance.

Conclusions:

• The developed bariatric mannequin simulation system is a promising tool for enhancing physical assessment education for obese patients.
• The inclusion of programmable electronics offers advanced assessment capabilities, overcoming limitations of previous mannequins.
• The system demonstrates potential for effective and engaging simulation-based learning in healthcare.