Mastery Learning Improves Simulated Distal Radius Fracture Management by Emergency Medicine Teaching Faculty

Emergency medicine (EM) physicians must be competent in managing distal radius fractures, yet training gaps exist. This study evaluated academic EM physician proficiency in managing a simulated distal radius fracture and the impact of a simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) intervention.

We conducted a pretest-posttest study of board-certified or board-eligible EM physicians at a university-based training hospital between August and December 2023. Four trained facilitators assessed participants on distal radius fracture management using a task trainer and a 41-item checklist with a minimum passing standard (MPS) of 37/41 (90.2%). The SBML intervention included baseline assessment, individualized feedback, deliberate practice, and reassessment.

Fifty-one physicians participated in the pretest, with a median score of 32/41 (78.0%) and 10 (19.6%) achieving the MPS initially. Of the 20 participants who completed the posttest, 19 (95%) achieved the MPS after SBML intervention. The intervention resulted in a significant mean score improvement of 8.4 points (95% confidence interval: 6.92-9.78; P < 0.01). Only performing a distal radius fracture reduction in the past year significantly predicted higher pretest performance (3.3 points higher, P = 0.04). Participant comfort with all aspects of distal radius fracture management significantly improved after SBML.

Academic EM physicians demonstrated performance gaps in distal radius fracture management that were effectively addressed by SBML. Few clinical experience metrics predicted performance, suggesting a need for targeted educational interventions to maintain skills in this important procedural area.