title: Impact of high-fidelity transvaginal ultrasound simulation for radiology on residents' performance and satisfaction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Because of the intimate and uncomfortable nature of transvaginal ultrasound, training residents to perform this type of examination is a difficult task. As a consequence, residents may receive inadequate training that leads to a lack of the skills and confidence needed to perform this examination. The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of using simulation sessions to teach residents how to perform transvaginal ultrasound, enabling them to diagnose obstetric and gynecologic emergencies and helping them survive on-calls alone while keeping their patients safe.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an experimental study design to compare the confidence levels of 20 senior residents who received clinical training only to those of 25 junior residents who were enrolled in a simulation-based teaching session. We also compared the junior residents' levels of performance and confidence using transvaginal ultrasound before and after the sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The performance of transvaginal ultrasound by the junior residents and their confidence levels significantly improved after they attended the simulation sessions. They had higher levels of confidence than the senior residents who did not attend the session. It was also observed that the number of nondiagnostic transvaginal ultrasounds performed by the on-call resident that needed to be repeated the next day had significantly dropped.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simulation-based teaching sessions are an effective method of education, which improve trainees' skills and confidence levels and improve patient safety.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, PO Box 3743, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: rahmad@kau.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Medical Education Department, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghufran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alhashmi
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ajlan
authors.affiliation: King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Bassem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eldeek
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Transvaginal ultrasound; high fidelty; postgraduate; residency program; simmulation