Role of high-fidelity simulation in obstetrics ultrasound training: A fresh perspective in the COVID era

Abstract

Context: Obstetric sonography is one of the cornerstones in radiology. The exposure of radiology residents in this field is not adequate during their residency life; hence, simulation techniques can be used to bridge the knowledge gap and improve their skills. Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the impact of high-fidelity obstetric sonography simulation in resident training and competency testing. Design: The study design involves interventional longitudinal cohort study. Methods: The study was conducted among 15 radiology residents with the use of Vimedix high-fidelity Ultrasonography simulator. Seven sessions were conducted, following which the evaluation of the training program was done using the Kirkpatrick training evaluation model. The resident's reaction was recorded using the questionnaire, and the change in knowledge was ascertained by the pretest and posttest. A change in behavior was recorded using a questionnaire in the 6-month follow-up. Results: All the domains showed a positive trend after the session three and session seven. The residents were more confident and had an overall improved satisfaction of 97.4% regarding training. The Cronbach's alpha test for this study was 0.812 for session three and 0.867 for session seven. An upward trend was seen in the results of the pretest and posttest scores with P < 0.01. The average pretest mean score was 11.3, and the average posttest mean score was 21.4. A 6-month follow-up showed nearly 95% of the individuals found simulation to be helpful in their daily day-to-day practice. Conclusions: High-fidelity simulators can be used as an adjunct to conventional training in obstetric sonography training of radiology residents.