Abstract
ObjectiveTo survey medical students on the lumbar puncture (LP) procedure in terms of their existing knowledge, practical experience and attitudes, and to determine whether the completion of a single standardized seminar that includes practical training on phantoms can alter these parameters.MethodsThe survey was completed by medical students undertaking the curricular neurology course. Students were asked to describe their practical experience in different bedside procedures, and document how they perceive LP in terms of their own knowledge, confidence and attitude. Students then participated in a newly designed 90‐min seminar that included practical training on phantoms and placed special emphasis both on the patients' point of view during the procedure and the benefits of an atraumatic approach. All students who completed the seminar were required to complete the survey for a second time.ResultsAmong the 153 participants, LP was associated with the lowest baseline levels of experience and confidence compared to other bedside procedures. Attitudes, knowledge, and confidence related to the various aspects of LP all showed significant improvement after the seminar.ConclusionA single standardized LP seminar with simulation training alters medical students' attitudes toward LP through improving their level of knowledge and confidence. This may have important implications in doctors‐to‐be on their stance toward LP and resultant advice to future patients regarding this important procedure.
Highlights
Lumbar puncture (LP) is an essential tool in daily clinical practice, par‐ ticularly for diagnostic approaches to infectious and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system in the field of neurology, and in anesthesiology, oncology, or geriatric medicine (Roos, 2003)
Among the 153 participants, lumbar puncture (LP) was associated with the lowest baseline lev‐ els of experience and confidence compared to other bedside procedures
These attributes may be reinforced by inherent practical experience, but skill acquisition and practical training in multistep bedside procedures such as LP remain underrepresented in medical education (Barr & Graffeo, 2016)
Summary
Lumbar puncture (LP) is an essential tool in daily clinical practice, par‐ ticularly for diagnostic approaches to infectious and demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system in the field of neurology, and in anesthesiology, oncology, or geriatric medicine (Roos, 2003) It is regarded as a relatively safe procedure (Alcolea et al., 2014; Duits et al, 2016), a negative attitude toward LP appears to prevail in the general population (Borhani‐Haghighi, Rezaei, Etemadi, Ghaem, & Shariat, 2009; King & Rwegerera, 2015; Tsvetkova et al, 2017). It is conceivable that such an appraisal—if per‐ sistent until residency—can negatively influence patients' attitudes as well as their willingness to undergo LP These attributes may be reinforced by inherent practical experience, but skill acquisition and practical training in multistep bedside procedures such as LP remain underrepresented in medical education (Barr & Graffeo, 2016). The objectives for this study were to survey German medical students about the LP procedure in terms of their exist‐ ing knowledge, practical experience, and attitudes, and determine whether the completion of a single standardized seminar that includes practical training on phantoms can influence these parameters
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