Assessment of a Web-Based Simulation in Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) Views

• Conditions: Training; Education
• Interventions: Other: Web-base simulator; Other: No web-base simulator

• Registration Number: NCT03262532
• Lead Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto

Brief Summary

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is often used by anesthesiologists during cardiac surgery, as a monitoring tool in non-cardiac surgery, and as a point of care diagnostic tool in the intensive care unit (ICU). Furthermore, TEE is becoming a core skill in many specialties to facilitate focused cardiovascular assessment in hemodynamically compromised patients in various settings. Educators must determine how to best instruct current and future trainees to achieve clinical competence in TEE within a time limited and constantly expanding medical curriculum.

In this study the investigators will evaluate a new online TEE Simulation module as a learning tool to accelerate and enhance traditional clinical teaching. This project will evaluate a new online TEE Simulation module that replicates the actions required to adjust TEE probe position and the ultrasound plane in relation to a 3D heart model.

The investigators hypothesize that experience with the online TEE simulation module will improve the ability of trainees to independently perform TEE probe manipulations necessary to obtain standard TEE views. The proposed study will answer this question by measuring the performance of trainees in obtaining 10 of the 25 standard TEE views using the Vimedix mannequin-based ultrasonography simulator following an hour of review of the online TEE Simulation module.

The educational benefit of the Web-based TEE simulation module, will be evaluated by 20 novices randomly assigned to two groups, a control group of 10 subjects without exposure to the Web-based simulation, and an experimental group of 10 subjects with exposure to the Web-based simulation. Both groups will be assessed on their performance in attaining the 10 standard TEE views with the Vimedix simulator.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-03-13
• Study First Submitted: 2017-03-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2017-08-23
• Study First Posted: 2017-08-25
• Status Verified: 2017-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2018-02-16
• Last Update Posted: 2018-02-20
• Primary Completion: 2018-07-01
• Study Completion: 2018-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Residents or fellows in anesthesia, cardiology and critical care enrolled at the Toronto General Hospital

Exclusion Criteria

• Residents or fellows in anesthesia, cardiology and critical care with prior experience with TEE probe manipulation

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental	Web-base simulator	Learning TEE manipulation with a Web-based TEE simulation module
Control	No web-base simulator	Learning a TEE manipulation without the Web-based TEE simulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
TEE simulation model decreases time to select image acquisition in trainee participant vs. participants trained by reading material only	2 week review 1 session for assessment (Control: time required to acquire 10 views, Intervention: I hour session with online simulator plus time required to acquire 10 views)	The metrics for acquiring each image will be recorded by the model, the primary measurement will be time in seconds per view acquired.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
TEE simulation model improves select image quality in trainee participants vs. participants trained by reading material only as assessed by a expert review panel of echo cardiographers	2 week review 1 session for assessment- time required to acquire 10 views	Each image will be captured by the model and graded according to a 5 point scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Toronto General Hospital; 🇨🇦 Toronto, Ontario, Canada