Development of a Targeting Task Trainer for Ultrasound-Guided Needle Procedures

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound-guided needle procedures are difficult skills to master considering the decrease in the need for invasive testing with the emergence of cell-free fetal DNA testing. Because these procedures will continue to be needed in the foreseeable future, simulation will need to take on a larger role in the training. METHODS: Three models using wooden dowels, drinking straws, and wooden balls as ultrasound targets were constructed and used in three distinct targeting tasks. Targeting tasks were devised that required participants to hit targets in the same ultrasound plane (dowel) while following a restrictive path (straw) and outside the initial ultrasound plane (ball). Completion time and targeting errors were recorded for residents (11), maternal-fetal medicine fellows (three), and maternal-fetal medicine (three) attendings. Performance was compared between those with experience in needle-guided procedures (fellows and attendings) and those without experience (residents) using a Mann–Whitney U test. RESULTS: All attendings felt the tasks would allow the practice of targeting skills and aid in training. There were no differences between the experienced and inexperienced groups on either the dowel or straw tasks. Experienced health care providers performed significantly better than inexperienced group in the ball task (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: We describe training tasks that can aid in the training of ultrasound-guided needle procedures. Although the dowel and straw tasks did not discriminate, the ball task clearly showed benefit of prior experience. Although the ball task is likely to be helpful in training, other tasks with good discriminatory ability need to be devised.