Physician Assistant Student Simulation Training in Ultrasound-Guided Procedures Using Synthetic Cysts and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Ultrasound Technology

Background:

• Traditional ultrasound-guided needle-guidance training for physician assistant (PA) students occurs during clinical rotations on live patients.
• This high-stress environment poses risks of patient discomfort and injury during the learning process.
• Simulation training with cadavers offers a safe, realistic alternative for skill development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of integrating simulation training in ultrasound-guided percutaneous cyst drainage into PA education.
• To assess the impact of simulation on student confidence and objective skills.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-seven PA students participated in training sessions using synthetic cysts in cadaver tissue.
• Participants completed pre- and post-training self-confidence questionnaires.
• Objective skills examinations were administered by an instructor to assess procedural competency.

Main Results:

• Participant self-confidence significantly increased across all assessed aspects post-training (P < 0.0001).
• Only 2 participants failed to pass the skills assessment.
• Successful procedures averaged 1.9 needle sticks and 143 seconds.

Conclusions:

• Simulation training with synthetic cysts in cadavers provides a realistic, low-stress environment for PA students to develop ultrasound-guided skills.
• Integrating such training into PA education enhances student confidence and competence.
• This approach minimizes risks to live patients and improves patient safety outcomes.