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Study: Proficiency-based simulation training provides best results
May 18, 2015According to an AANA study, combining simulation with step-by-step learning targets brings substantially better results than traditional education or training on a simulator without objectively set, quantitative benchmarks.
The Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) recently conducted a blinded trial comparing residents with three different training backgrounds performing an arthroscopic Bankart repair. One of the groups attended a traditional AANA Resident Course (A); another group was trained using a dry shoulder model simulator (B). A third group used the same shoulder simulator, but also had to follow a proficiency-based progression protocol (C). In other words, group C had to reach several objectively set quantitative targets during training.
The study shows that the group that combined simulator training with intermediary learning goals performed significantly better than the others: residents in group C made some 60% fewer intra-operative errors than group A during their final Bankart repair; the difference to group B was some 46% to group C's benefit. Compared to group A, residents in group B were 1.8 and in group C 5.5 times more likely to achieve their final Bankart repair benchmark.
All of the VirtaMed simulators enable educators to create customized training courses with several intermediate benchmarks based on widely accepted metrics. VirtaMed simulators also help track the progress and learning curve of each student.