Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia: feasibility and effectiveness of teaching via telesimulation in Ethiopia. Issue 8 (26th April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Monica; Salmon, Margaret; Zaidi, Rene; Nagdev, Arun; Debebe, Finot; Muller, Mundenga Furaha; Ruhangaza, Cito Furaha; Emiru, Haimanot; Belachew, Yonas; Tumebo, Aklilu; Paoletti, Marcus; Okrainec, Allan; Chan, Vincent; Niazi, Ahtsham U
• Is Part Of: Regional anesthesia and pain medicine. Volume 46:Issue 8(2021)
• Page Start: 722
• Page End: 726
• Publication Date: 2021-04-26
• Subjects: lower extremity -- regional anesthesia -- education -- ultrasonography; Conduction anesthesia -- Periodicals; Pain medicine -- Periodicals; 617.964
• DOI: 10.1136/rapm-2020-102394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1098-7339

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Acute pain management in resource-poor countries remains a challenge. Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is a cost-effective way of delivering analgesia in these settings. However, for financial and logistical reasons, educational workshops are inaccessible to many physicians in these environments. Telesimulation provides a way of teaching across distance by using simulators and video-conferencing software to connect instructors and students worldwide. We conducted a prospective study to determine the feasibility of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia teaching via telesimulation in Ethiopia. Methods: Eighteen Ethiopian orthopedic and emergency medicine house staff participated in telesimulation teaching of ultrasound-guided femoral nerve block. This consisted of four 90-min sessions, once per week. Week 1 consisted of a precourse test and a presentation on aspects of performing a femoral nerve block, weeks 2 and 3 were live teaching sessions on scanning and needling techniques, and in week 4, the house staff undertook a postcourse test. All participants were assessed using a validated Global Rating Scale and Checklist. Results: Participants were provided with a validated checklist and global rating scale as a pretest and post-test. The participants showed significant improvement in their test scores, from a total mean of 51% in the pretest to 84% in their post-test. Conclusions: Teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia of the femoral nerve remotely via telesimulation is feasible. Telesimulation can greatly improve the accessibility of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia teaching to physicians in remote areas.