Improving Pelvic Organ Prolapse Education with the iPOP Model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gynecology
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• The Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification (POP-Q) system is crucial for diagnosing and staging pelvic organ prolapse.
• Learning and mastering the POP-Q examination can be challenging for residents due to its complexity.
• Visual aids and simulation models can potentially improve the learning curve for complex clinical assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Interactive Pelvic Organ Prolapse (iPOP) model as an educational tool for residents learning the POP-Q system.
• To assess whether training with the iPOP model enhances resident confidence and proficiency in conducting POP-Q examinations.
• To determine the impact of the iPOP model on residents' understanding, comfort, and teaching ability regarding the POP-Q.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory, pre-post intervention study design was employed.
• Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) residents underwent baseline surveys on POP-Q knowledge and confidence.
• Residents practiced POP-Q examinations on iPOP models before and after an educational session, followed by post-intervention surveys and performance assessments, including a subset on a standardized patient.

Main Results:

• All 18 participating OB/GYN residents showed statistically significant improvements in understanding (OR=11.08), comfort (OR=7.10), and confidence in teaching (OR=13.53) the POP-Q system post-intervention.
• Significant improvements were observed in POP-Q grid scores for stage 1 (mean difference=+3.00) and stage 3 (mean difference=+2.83) prolapse models.
• The iPOP model training led to enhanced overall POP-Q examination scores.

Conclusions:

• The Interactive Pelvic Organ Prolapse (iPOP) model serves as a valuable educational resource for resident training in POP-Q examinations.
• Utilizing the iPOP model significantly boosts resident confidence and practical skills in performing POP-Q assessments.
• The iPOP model facilitates improved accuracy in staging pelvic organ prolapse among resident learners.