Application value of simulation simulators in transesophageal echocardiography teaching
Objective To explore the differences in learning outcomes between learners undergoing transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)training with and without simulators in continuing education programs.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted to examine the learning outcomes of physicians undertaking TEE training at the Department of Anesthesiology,Fuwai Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from January 2022 to December 2023.Participants were divided into two groups:those who received training with simulators and those who did not.The study aimed to compare the training outcomes between the two groups by analyzing post-training assessment scores,satisfaction with the training,and confidence in independent TEE operation following the training,thereby evaluating the effectiveness of simulators in TEE instruction.SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Measurement data were expressed as mean±standard deviation,and between-group comparisons were made using an independent samples t-test.Categorical data were expressed as percentages(%),and between-group comparisons were made using the chi-square test.Results Post-training assessments revealed markedly superior performance in the simulator group compared to the non-simulator group regarding written examination scores[(79.15±6.86)vs.(71.54±5.54),P<0.05],rate of acquiring imaging planes during the operational examination[(80.85±5.93)%vs.(73.85±5.06)%,P<0.05],and time for acquiring 20 standard imaging planes[(11.45±1.12)min vs.(13.54±1.05)min,P<0.05].Post-training questionnaire surveys indicated that participants in the simulator group exhibited significantly improved confidence in independent TEE operation following the training compared with the non-simulator group[(4.74±0.44)vs.(4.08±0.95),P<0.05].Conclusions In TEE training during continuing education,when other training components are held constant,the use of simulators leads to better learning outcomes in image recognition and image acquisition compared to training without simulators,as well as higher confidence in independent operation after training.
Simulation simulatorTransesophageal echocardiographyTeachingContinuing education program