Open AccessAn Instructional Program to Facilitate Teaching Joint/Soft‐tissue Injection and Aspiration
Author(s) -
Vogelgesang Scott A.,
Karplus Theresa M.,
Kreiter Clarence D.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of general internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.746
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 1525-1497
pISSN - 0884-8734
DOI - 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2002.10310.x
Subject(s) - arthrocentesis , medicine , rheumatology , physical therapy , medical education , alternative medicine , osteoarthritis , pathology , synovial fluid
OBJECTIVE: We developed an instructional program to teach aspiration and injection techniques of the knee and shoulder to medical students and residents. METHODS: Residents and fourth‐year medical students participating in a rheumatology elective were assigned by deterministic allocation into 3 groups: the Traditional group received no specific instruction in arthrocentesis but simply rotated through rheumatology, learning injection techniques only if they saw patients who required them; the Lecture‐only group received only the didactic lecture and did not have the opportunity to practice on the models; the Program group participated in the newly developed program of instruction that combined a didactic lecture and a hands‐on workshop using the anatomic models to practice arthrocentesis techniques. RESULTS: The scores on the written examination for those in the Program group (mean score 37.46 out of 40 possible) and the Lecture‐only group (mean 37.75) were significantly higher than those of the Traditional group (mean 33.15) ( P < .05). The scores on the practical examination for those in the Program group (mean score 24.08 out of 26 possible) were significantly higher than those of the Lecture‐only (mean 20.50) and Traditional (mean 17.33) ( P < .05) CONCLUSION: The addition of this type of instruction to supplement a traditional internal medicine rotation can enhance a learner's ability to perform joint/soft‐tissue injection and aspiration.