A Virtual Reality Simulation Model of Spinal Ultrasound: Role in Teaching Spinal Sonoanatomy. Issue 2 (1st March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ramlogan, Reva; Niazi, Ahtsham U.; Jin, Rongyu; Johnson, James; Chan, Vincent W.; Perlas, Anahi
• Is Part Of: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Volume 42:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 217
• Page End: 222
• Publication Date: 2017-03-01
• Subjects: Conduction anesthesia -- Periodicals; Pain medicine -- Periodicals; 617.964
• DOI: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000537
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-7339

Abstract

Abstract : Background and Objectives: Ultrasound assessment of the lumbar spine improves the success of spinal and epidural anesthesia, especially for patients with underlying difficult anatomy. To assist with the teaching and learning of ultrasound-guided neuraxial anesthesia, we have created an online interactive educational model (http://www.usra.ca/vspine.php and http://pie.med.utoronto.ca/vspine ). The aim of the current study was to determine whether the virtual spine model improved the knowledge of neuraxial anatomy and sonoanatomy. Methods: After obtaining ethics board approval and written participant consent, 14 anesthesia trainees with no prior experience with spine ultrasound imaging were included in this study. Construct validity was assessed using a pretest/posttest design to measure the knowledge acquired from self-study of the virtual spine simulation modules. Two tests (A and B) with 20 multiple-choice questions were used either for the pretest or posttest, at random in order to account for possible differences in difficulty between the 2 tests. These tests were administered immediately before and after a 1-hour training session using the spine ultrasound model. Results: Fourteen anesthesia trainees completed the study. Seven used test A as the pretest (group A), and 7 used test B as the pretest (group B). Both groups showed a statistically significant improvement ( P < 0.05) in test scores after a 1-hour session with the spine ultrasound model. The mean scores were 55% (SD, 11.2%) on the pretest and 77% (SD, 8.7%) on the posttest. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that after 1 hour of self-study by the trainees on the spine ultrasound model test scores improved by 40%.