title: Learning intravenous cannulation: a comparison of the conventional method and the CathSim Intravenous Training System.
abstract: 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 my 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China. hskchang@inet.polyu.edu.hk
authors.forename: Katherine Ka-Pik
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Joanne Wai-Yee
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Thomas Kwok-Sing
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000451:nursing*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004493:Education; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000451:nursing; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface