Evaluation of Physician Technical Skills During Simulated Vacuum-Assisted Deliveries [33M]. (May 2018) - Friedman, Frederick
Abstract : INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine if a targeted education program using a mannequin-simulated vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery could improve the technical skills of obstetricians. METHODS: This study involved a concurrent assessment of the technique obstetricians employed while performing vacuum-assisted vaginal deliveries using synthetic models. Study enrollees consisted of all obstetricians within an existing Obstetric Quality Improvement Collaborative who maintain operative vaginal delivery privileges. All evaluators underwent a rigorous training program to ensure uniformity. Technical skills and an overall assessment were scored using a standardized checklist of 14 tasks. Data points were collected while assessing the subjects' technique both before and after a targeted training session. RESULTS: Complete assessment was available for 288 obstetricians across the 5 participating hospitals. The majority (69%) of subjects was female, and most (70%) had greater than 10 years of training. For 8 of the technical skills, as well as for the overall assessment, there was statistically significant improvement following the simulation and the targeted education session. When comparing overall technical skills based on sex of the obstetrician and years in practice, there were no differences in degree of improvement following the educational session. CONCLUSION: Our data show that a simulation training program including a targeted education session in vacuum assisted-deliveries improves obstetrician technical skills.