None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Background Spinal ultrasound has great potential as a teaching tool for epidural insertion; however it is currently underutilized. Purpose The purpose of the study was to test the efficacy of a standardized training programme of spinal ultrasound and to determine the optimal teaching method. Methods The study was conducted as a prospective, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial as part of 2 standardized workshops 1 week apart at a single centre in Australia during December 2010. For each workshop the anaesthesiologists (novices in performing the spinal ultrasound technique) were randomized according to a computer-generated random table, into 2 teaching groups to receive standardized training via either an explicit (didactic) 10-step or an implicit (interactive) learning method. Allocation concealment achieved with opaque sequentially numbered sealed envelopes. This was followed by a practice session and assessment of specific ultrasound tasks on pregnant volunteers. They were individually videorecorded for assessment, and subsequently rated by two experienced international blinded assessors from a using a global rating scale (GRS) and checklist. Saved lumbar intervertebral images were also rated. Main outcome measure: GRS score. Secondary outcome measures: Task specific checklist and image quality scores. ICC’s were calculated to assess agreement between reviewers.
Interventions
Two spinal ultrasound workshops were conducted and supervised 1 week apart by 2 experienced spinal ultrasonographers. They had 3 months of intensive supervised training by the principle investigator (4 years experience in performing and teaching novices spinal ultrasound) prior to commencement of the study. Each workshop comprised of an explicit teaching intervention (20 minutes), practice period (40 minutes) and videorecorded assessment period(20 minutes).
Explicit teaching intervention:Prior t
Two spinal ultrasound workshops were conducted and supervised 1 week apart by 2 experienced spinal ultrasonographers. They had 3 months of intensive supervised training by the principle investigator (4 years experience in performing and teaching novices spinal ultrasound) prior to commencement of the study. Each workshop comprised of an explicit teaching intervention (20 minutes), practice period (40 minutes) and videorecorded assessment period(20 minutes). Explicit teaching intervention:Prior to initiating the study we developed and trialed a standardized explicit 10-step training programme called “the 10 easy steps of performing spinal ultrasound” based on the technique described by Carvalho et al. and modifying it to avoid some of the problems commonly encountered while learning the skill, as defined by Margarido et al. Standardized explicit (didactic) spinal ultrasound training method was taught explicitly for 20 minutes via a didactic sequential step-by-step approach.This included a 10 minute narrated PowerPoint presentation and a 10 minute demonstration of the “10 easy steps of performing spinal ultrasound”.
Sponsors
Calvary Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territories
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Anaesthetists (including trainees) with no prior spinal ultrasound experience
Exclusion criteria
Unavailable to attend both workshop sessions
Outcome results
None listed