Simulation in healthcare : journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare
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Comparative Study
Comparison of the development of performance skills in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia simulations with different phantom models.
Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) skills are traditionally obtained by supervised performance on patients, but practice on phantom models improves success. Currently available models are expensive or use perishable products, for example, olive-in-chicken breasts (OCB). We constructed 2 inexpensive phantom (transparent and opaque) models with readily available nonperishable products and compared the process of learning UGRA skills by novice practitioners on these models with the OCB model. ⋯ Training on inexpensive synthetic simulation models with no perishable products permits learning of UGRA skills by novices. The OCB model has disadvantages of containing potentially infective material, requires refrigeration, cannot be used after multiple needle punctures, and is associated with more failures during simulated UGRA. Direct visualization of the target in the transparent model allows the trainee to focus on needle insertion skills, but the opaque model may be more realistic for learning target identification skills required when UGRA is performed on real patients in the operating room.
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In situ simulation within new facilities holds the promise of identifying latent safety threats. The aim of this study was to identify if in situ simulation can also impact important employee perceptions and attitudes. ⋯ In situ simulation exercises before practicing clinically in a new facility can both increase familiarity with new clinical environments and impact important organizational outcomes. Thus, simulation in a new work space can influence factors important to employees, organizations, and patients.