Survey of clinician and student impressions of a synthetic canine model for gastrointestinal surgery training.

Abstract

To evaluate the perceived efficacy of a high-fidelity synthetic canine model for simulating common gastrointestinal surgical procedures. Survey of students and experienced clinicians. Twelve clinicians with >2 years of postgraduate experience in the field of small animal surgery and 102 senior year veterinary students. The model was subjectively evaluated by 12 clinicians with >2 years of postgraduate experience in the field of small animal surgery. Senior year veterinary students (n = 102) were asked to complete questionnaires before and after a laboratory on common gastrointestinal surgical procedures that included rating of perceived proficiency, anatomical knowledge, and the use of synthetic models compared with live animals. Clinicians assessed most aspects of the model as moderately realistic and unanimously agreed that it would be helpful for students to train on this model prior to live surgery. Student survey response rates were 91% and 99% before and after the laboratory, respectively. The proportion of students that felt moderately-to-highly proficient with the procedures increased from 8% prior to the laboratories to 59% after the laboratories (P < .001). The proportion of students that felt that they had superior-to-excellent knowledge of abdominal surgical anatomy increased from 16% prior to the laboratories to 44% after the laboratories (P < .001). The proportion of students that were satisfied with synthetic models instead of live animals increased from 52% prior to the laboratories to 74% after the laboratories (P = .014). Experienced clinicians considered the model to have moderate realism. A positive shift in the students' self-perceived proficiency with gastrointestinal surgery was evident after the use of the model. This synthetic model should be considered for training of veterinary gastrointestinal surgery. However, comparison studies are recommended to ascertain the relative educational value of this model.