Premium
Simulation‐Based Structured Education Supports Focused Neonatal Cranial Ultrasound Training
Author(s) -
Mohammad Khorshid,
Murthy Prashanth,
Aguinaga Fernando,
Fajardo Carlos,
Eguiguren Luis,
Castro Yessi,
Guzman Veronica,
Scott James N.,
Chan Sonny,
Soraisham Amuchou,
Stritzke Amelie,
Al Awad Essa,
Kamaluddeen Majeeda,
Thomas Sumesh
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.15207
Subject(s) - medicine , test (biology) , trainer , medical physics , radiology , paleontology , computer science , biology , programming language
Objectives Brain injury in preterm neonates may cause clinical deterioration and requires timeous bedside diagnosis. Teaching cranial ultrasound (US) skills using fragile preterm neonates is challenging. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness and feasibility of using task‐trainer computer‐based simulators and US‐suitable cranial phantoms in combination with teaching sessions in teaching novices to perform focused cranial US evaluations for identifying substantial intraventricular hemorrhage. Methods This was a prospective interventional educational study targeting participants with no prior skills in neonatal cranial US. Participants attended a 2‐day training workshop, with didactic and hands‐on interactive sessions using computer‐based and 3‐dimensional printed phantom simulators. Participants then performed a cranial US scan on a healthy neonate to assess the diagnostic quality of the images acquired. Individual precourse and postcourse knowledge tests were compared. To test recall, participants also submitted US images acquired on neonates within 3 and 6 months of attending the course. Results Forty‐five participants completed the training modules. Mean knowledge scores increased significantly (in brain anatomy, brain physiology, intracranial disorders, and US physics domains). Thirty‐eight cranial US scans were acquired during the course, 22 within 3 months after completion, and 34 within 6 months after completion. Thirty‐two (84%) of the initial 38 case images, 17 (77%) of 22 images submitted within 3 months, and 32 (94%) of 34 images submitted within 6 months after course completion were of diagnostic quality. Conclusions A structured training module with didactic and hand‐on training sessions using simulators and phantoms is feasible and supports training of clinicians to perform focused cranial US examinations.