La Torre Antonio, Visioli Carmen Beatriz
Department of Neonatology, AOU Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, ISPRO, Florence, Italy.
Ultrasound. 2020 Aug;28(3):180-186. doi: 10.1177/1742271X19894612. Epub 2020 Jan 28.
The traditional method of teaching the technique of neonatal brain ultrasonography is based upon the interaction between the practitioner and the neonate under the supervision of a tutor. This approach has disadvantages in that it may result in a longer imaging examination and the patient may become agitated. As demand for ultrasound services escalates and departments get busier, this often means that the trainee and supervisor are under pressure to work rapidly. Such environments are common but not conducive to the development of adequate skills and competencies. A neonatal head phantom used as part of a dedicated study day could help the beginner to learn basic elements of the ultrasound examination within a safe stress-free environment. It offers the opportunity to repeat the examination as often as the trainee wishes without time pressures and the distraction of a moving and potentially very sick baby.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial phantom as a means for the practitioner to acquire the fundamental principles of neonatal brain ultrasound.
A total of 17 participants attending a one day neonatal ultrasound course aimed at beginners were invited to complete a short two-part questionnaire that assessed their perceived improvement in scanning ability before and after using a commercially available head phantom.
Of the 14 returned questionnaires, the overall perceived understanding, ability and confidence improved and anxiety levels about the procedure fell. The median pre-training score was 9.0 compared with the median post-training score of 12.0 (P = 0.005, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). At least 79% (up to 86%) of participants valued their experience with the phantom and would recommend the course to colleagues. Furthermore, about two-thirds reported that they would like to have additional practise with the phantom. Preliminary data from this study suggest that beginners found the head phantom useful for mastering some of the early skills required for neonatal brain ultrasound examinations, which in turn improved their confidence and reduced anxiety.
传统的新生儿脑超声检查技术教学方法是在导师的监督下，由从业者与新生儿进行互动。这种方法存在缺点，可能会导致成像检查时间延长，并且患者可能会变得烦躁不安。随着超声服务需求的增加以及科室变得更加繁忙，这通常意味着学员和带教老师面临快速工作的压力。这样的环境很常见，但不利于充分技能和能力的培养。将新生儿头部模型作为专门学习日的一部分使用，可以帮助初学者在安全、无压力的环境中学习超声检查的基本要素。它提供了机会，让学员可以根据自己的意愿多次重复检查，而没有时间压力，也不会受到移动且可能病情严重的婴儿的干扰。
本研究的目的是评估一种商业模型作为从业者掌握新生儿脑超声基本原则的手段的有效性。
共有17名参加针对初学者的为期一天的新生儿超声课程的参与者被邀请完成一份简短的两部分问卷，该问卷评估了他们在使用市售头部模型前后对扫描能力的感知改善情况。
在14份返回的问卷中，总体感知的理解、能力和信心有所提高，对该操作的焦虑水平下降。训练前的中位数分数为9.0，而训练后的中位数分数为12.0（P = 0.005，Wilcoxon符号秩检验）。至少79%（高达86%）的参与者重视他们使用模型的体验，并会向同事推荐该课程。此外，约三分之二的人报告说他们希望有更多机会使用模型进行练习。这项研究的初步数据表明，初学者发现头部模型有助于掌握新生儿脑超声检查所需的一些早期技能，这反过来又提高了他们的信心并减轻了焦虑。
