title: Effects of using simulation versus CD-ROM in the performance of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine which method of teaching, CD-ROM, simulation, or a combination of both, was more effective in increasing the performance of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. No studies have investigated these methods. The framework for this study was critical thinking. The study was a prospective, mixed (between and within) subjects, experimental design. The sample consisted of 29 student registered nurse anesthetists randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: CD-ROM (n = 11), simulation (n = 11), and combination (n = 7). All groups were evaluated by the use of cadavers before and 2 months after the intervention using a valid and reliable instrument of performance. A repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated that the combination was significantly better than the CD-ROM and simulation (P < .05). The means and standard deviations for pretest and posttest results, respectively, were: CD-ROM, 33 +/- 7%, 41 +/- 9%; simulation, 35 +/- 10%, 49 +/- 13%; and combination, 36 +/- 8%, 64 +/- 17%. The baseline for each group was 0. Use of a combination of CD-ROM and simulation should be considered in teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia techniques.
authors.affiliation: US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA. john.gasko@amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gasko
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sherner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gegel
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burgert
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sama
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Franzen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000765:Anesthesia, Conduction / Q000379:methods*; D016251:CD-ROM; D002102:Cadaver; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009719:Nurse Anesthetists / Q000193:education*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D016544:Patient Simulation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*