Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol · May 2002
Teaching invasive perinatal procedures: assessment of a high fidelity simulator-based curriculum.
Learning curves pose a difficult problem in the teaching of technical skills: how do you teach procedural skills without compromising patients' health? A simulator-based curriculum has been designed to minimize the risks to patients undergoing amniocentesis by shifting the learning curve away from patients and into the laboratory. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a high-fidelity simulator-based curriculum in improving the performance of amniocentesis by obstetric trainees. ⋯ A comprehensive curriculum based on a high-fidelity simulator was effective at improving skills demonstrated on the simulator. The challenge remains to establish that skills acquired on a simulator are transferable to the clinical setting.