title: Comparative analysis of two venipuncture learning methods on nursing students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venus cannulation is one of the main nursing actions. For the safety of patients and nurses, this skill is important to be performed in a proper and responsible way. Thus, the need for adequate education on this skill is essential.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Comparison between the 4-stage (demonstration, deconstruction, comprehension, performance) learning method and the simplified 2-stage method (deconstruction, performance) on venous cannulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study took place from November 2011 to March 2012. In total, 117 students of the Nursing Department of Technological Educational Institute of Athens were randomized into two education groups of the 2- (Group A) and 4- (Group B) stage method respectively. Students of both groups were assessed during training and 45days later for skill retention. For the assessment of all students, a check list with the steps required to venous cannulation was used. The time to complete the process was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group A included 54 students and Group B 50 students. During initial training, the average time to complete the process without any errors was lower for Group A compared to Group B (1.77±0.12min vs. 2.33±0.13min, p=0.006). Regarding the appropriate steps for venous cannulation, Group A made fewer errors compared to Group B (0.95±0.95 vs. 1.38±1.10, p=0.021). In addition, Group A omitted more steps than Group B (0.29±0.06 vs. 0.11±0.05, p=0.042). During skill retention assessment, no significant difference was observed in the number of incorrect steps or in the number of omitted steps between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our findings, the 4-stage method, is associated with less omitted steps, while the 2-stage method, is associated with less time required to complete the procedure and less errors during performance, at initial stages. However, skill retention does not seem to be associated with the type of the educational methodology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Sparti, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bitsika
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karlis
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Iacovidou
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kontodima
authors.forename: Zambia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Vardaki
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xanthos
mesh_terms: D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D018962:Phlebotomy; D013338:Students, Nursing
keywords: 2-stage methodology; 4-stage methodology; intravenous cannulation; skill acquisition; skill retention; teaching