Value of artisanal simulators to train veterinary students in performing invasive ultrasound-guided procedures

The Use of Simulators for Teaching Practical Clinical Skills to Veterinary Students - A Review

In the context of veterinary education, simulators are devices or sets of conditions aiming to imitate real patients and enable students to practice skills without the need for live animal use. Simulator use in veterinary education has increased significantly in recent years, allowing consistent practical teaching without reliance on clinical cases. This review examines the available literature regarding the use of simulation and simulators for teaching practical day one competences to veterinary students. Scientific databases were searched and 73 relevant articles were reviewed. The reviewed articles revealed that there are a number of simulators currently available to veterinary educators, that simulators can enhance student skills and provide an alternative learning environment without the need for live animal and/or cadaver use, and that they usually receive positive feedback from the students who use them. There appears to be a bias towards small animal simulators - however, some skills that are developed through the use of small animal or table-top models will be transferrable to other species. The majority of large animal simulators focus on bovine rectal palpation and/or pregnancy diagnosis. Further research is required to increase the repertoire of available simulators for use in veterinary education, in order to improve the practical skills of veterinary students and reduce the use of live animals and cadaver material for teaching purposes.

The Effects of Content Delivery Methods on Ultrasound Knobology and Image Quality Recognition Training in First-Year Veterinary Students

As new technologies are incorporated into the practice of veterinary medicine, it is imperative we utilize the most effective and impactful content delivery methods. Ultrasound technology has become more affordable and compact for veterinary hospitals, leading to easier incorporation into practice. This study compares three methods of delivering ultrasound knobology content to first-year veterinary students at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. In a prospective study, first-year veterinary students were randomly selected to receive one of three content delivery methods: self-directed active learning (SDL), in-person instructor demonstration, or online module instruction. Knowledge acquisition was assessed using a 10-question quiz for short-term understanding followed by a 10-question quiz after a 6-week period to assess long-term knowledge retention. Student demographics were analyzed using the Chi-square test. Quiz scores were analyzed between groups using Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by Dunn's post-tests for multiple comparisons. Values of p ≤ .05 were considered significant. On the short-term and retention quiz questions, students participating in SDL scored significantly higher (10 [5-10]) than those receiving in-person instructor demonstration (9 [3-10] p = .01 and 8 [2-10] p = .0004, respectively) or the online module instruction training (Group C) (6 [1-10] p < 0.0001 and 8 [4-10] p < .001, respectively). Based on quiz scores, veterinary students exhibited better ultrasound knobology and image quality recognition proficiency immediately and at 6-weeks following SDL when compared with other content delivery methods. Self-directed learning methods are recommended when teaching ultrasonography to veterinary students.

[Simulator model for ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis : Construction manual and practical evaluation]

An important challenge in learning ultrasound-assisted interventions, such as pericardiocentesis, is the navigation of the needle in a three-dimensional space on the basis of a two-dimensional image. In order to learn this in vitro realistic simulators are required. We manufactured a model which allows simulation of pericardiocentesis on the basis of ballistic gelatin (12.6%, 250 Bloom). Furthermore, the pericardiocentesis model was subjectively evaluated by 37 anesthetists in a pre-post design. The models used proved to be technically simple to manufacture, hard wearing and realistic. They are therefore regularly used in our hospitals to learn ultrasound-assisted interventions.

Status of research on physiology education in Brazil

Physiology education research aims to investigate teaching-learning aspects and methods specifically applied to physiology teaching and learning. In this paper exploring Brazilian research public data and information from the Brazilian Physiological Society Teaching Committee, we investigated the status of this research topic (physiology education) in Brazil. The data showed that physiology education research needs to be more recognized and supported in Brazil, and more physiologists may become interested in research in this field. Thus this field will become more developed during the physiologists' education.

Value of artisanal simulators to teach ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy using a tru-cut needle for veterinary and medical students

The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of artisanal simulators to teach veterinary and medical students the ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy using a tru-cut needle. The artisanal simulators consisted of bovine liver between two layers of commercially available grape gelatin. Students were paired, with one doing the biopsy and the other the ultrasound guidance. After performing the biopsies, each student answered a questionnaire with close-ended questions using a visual analog scale. The evaluated items were realism of the model, liver scanning, procedure instructions, biopsy feasibility, tru-cut needle handling, technique learning, and confidence to perform in vivo procedures. Items that received a score of 7 or higher were considered strong items; items with a score between 5 and 6.9 were classified as average items; and items with a score of 5 or lower were considered weak items. The answers to all questions had an average score of 7 or higher, suggesting that the simulator was classified as strong for all of the evaluated items. Answers to question 7 suggested that some of the students did not develop confidence to perform a tru-cut biopsy on a patient. Students evaluated the artisanal simulator as a strong method to be used in ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy with a tru-cut needle. Additionally, the model presented a low cost of production and was proven accurate to teach biopsy skills in health professional schools dealing with veterinary or human medicine.

A Novel Low-Cost Ultrasound-Guided Pericardiocentesis Simulation Model: Demonstration of Feasibility

Pericardiocentesis is a rare life-saving procedure for patients with cardiac tamponade. Due to the infrequency of this procedure, simulation models are often used for training. Commercial models are generally expensive. Proposed homemade models offer a lower-cost alternative but can be labor and time intensive. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a limited use, low-cost ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis model as a training tool for emergency physicians. Our model proved to be a practical, easily implemented, and acceptable model for training emergency physicians, including residents and students, in ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis.