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Learning intravenous cannulation: a comparison of the conventional method and the CathSim Intravenous Training System
Author(s) -
CHANG KATHERINE KAPIK,
CHUNG JOANNE WAIYEE,
WONG THOMAS KWOKSING
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of clinical nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1365-2702
pISSN - 0962-1067
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2702.2002.00561.x
Subject(s) - checklist , anxiety , medicine , nursing , nursing staff , psychology , psychiatry , cognitive psychology
• Intravenous cannulation is a nursing procedure carried out in some clinical units that may induce trauma and discomfort. Nurses should be well prepared before practising the procedure with clients. • Conventionally, a plastic arm was used for practice but, with innovative developments in technology, a computer program called the CathSim Intravenous Training System (CathSim ITS) is available for this purpose. This study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of learning using a plastic arm with the CathSim ITS. • Twenty‐eight nurses were divided into two groups and randomly assigned to the two different methods: plastic arm (control group) or CathSim ITS (experimental group). Both groups were provided with 1 hour of theory input and 2 hours of nursing laboratory work. • When the nurses felt ready to practise on clients, their performances were assessed by researchers with an intravenous cannulation qualification using a validated checklist. Prior to the assessment, trait and state anxiety levels were measured using the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (Hong Kong Chinese adaptation) to check whether anxiety would affect the performance. Following the assessment, a semi‐structured interview was conducted to reveal any knowledge acquired through using the selected method. • Both the control and CathSim ITS groups demonstrated a high success rate, scoring 100% and 92.86%, respectively, with their first client. • The semi‐structured interviews revealed that the CathSim ITS group appreciated several features of their assigned method. However, there is room for further development.