title: The impact of internet and simulation-based training on transoesophageal echocardiography learning in anaesthetic trainees: a prospective randomised study.
abstract: With the increasing role of transoesophageal echocardiography in clinical fields other than cardiac surgery, we decided to assess the efficacy of multi-modular echocardiography learning in echo-naïve anaesthetic trainees. Twenty-eight trainees undertook a pre-test to ascertain basic echocardiography knowledge, following which the study subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: learning via traditional methods such as review of guidelines and other literature (non-internet group); and learning via an internet-based echocardiography resource (internet group). After this, subjects in both groups underwent simulation-based echocardiography training. More tests were then conducted after a review of the respective educational resources and simulation sessions. Mean (SD) scores of subjects in the non-internet group were 28 (10)%, 44 (10)% and 63 (5)% in the pre-test, post-intervention test and post-simulation test, respectively, whereas those in the internet group scored 29 (8)%, 59 (10)%, (p = 0.001) and 72 (8)%, p = 0.005, respectively. The use of internet- and simulation-based learning methods led to a significant improvement in knowledge of transoesophageal echocardiography by anaesthetic trainees. The impact of simulation-based training was greater in the group who did not use the internet-based resource. We conclude that internet- and simulation-based learning methods both improve transoesophageal echocardiography knowledge in echo-naïve anaesthetic trainees.
authors.affiliation: St. George's Hospital, London, UK. Vivek.Sharma@stgeorges.nhs.uk
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chamos
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Valencia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meineri
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Fletcher
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003198:Computer Simulation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods; D007858:Learning; D011446:Prospective Studies