Skills transfer after proficiency-based simulation training in superficial femoral artery angioplasty.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to explore whether basic endovascular skills acquired using proficiency-based simulation training in superficial femoral artery (SFA) angioplasty translate to real-world performance.


METHODS
Five international experts were invited to evaluate a preliminary 28-item rating scale for SFA angioplasty using a modified Delphi study. To test the procedural scale, 4 experts and 11 final-year medical students then performed 2 SFA angioplasties each on the vascular intervention simulation trainer simulator. Thereafter, 10 general surgical residents (novices) received didactic training in SFA angioplasty. Trainees were then randomized with 5 trainees receiving further training on the vascular intervention simulation trainer simulator up to proficiency level. All 10 trainees then performed 1 SFA angioplasty on a patient within 5 days of training. The trainees' performance was assessed by 1 attending consultant blinded to the trainees' training status, using the developed procedural scale and a global rating scale.


RESULTS
Four items were eliminated from the procedural scale after the Delphi study. There were significant differences in the procedural scale scores between the experts and the students in the first trial [mean (SD), 94.25 (2.22) vs. 74.90 (8.79), P = 0.001] and the second trial [95.25 (0.50) vs. 76.82 (9.44), P < 0.001]. Simulation-trained trainees scored higher than the controls on the procedural scale [86.8 (5.4) vs. 67.6 (6), P = 0.001] and the global rating scale [37.2 (4.1) vs. 24.4 (5.3), P = 0.003].


CONCLUSIONS
Basic endovascular skills acquired using proficiency-based simulation training in SFA angioplasty do translate to real-world performance.
Department of Surgical Training, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. hazemhseino@rcsi.ie
Hazem
H
Hseino
Emmeline
E
Nugent
Michael J
MJ
Lee
Arnold D K
AD
Hill
Paul
P
Neary
Sean
S
Tierney
Daragh
D
Moneley
Mark
M
Given
D000328:Adult; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003198:Computer Simulation / Q000592:standards*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D013337:Students, Medical; D014584:User-Computer Interface