Effect of vascular simulation training on practice performance in residents: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: This study aims to investigate the teaching effect of vascular simulation training (ST) in rotating vascular residents.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants: A total of 95 vascular residents were included from 2015 to 2018 in a university affiliated centre western China, and divided into an ST group and a conventional training (CT) group. The ST group received ST and CT, and the CT group only received CT.

Primary outcome measures: Theoretical scores were assessed, and the technique parameters, complications and radiation damage of the procedures were analysed.

Results: The mean scores (8.74±1.09 vs 8.13±1.31) and the rate of willingness for retraining (93.62% vs 79.17%) in residents were higher in the ST group than in the conventional training (CT) group (p<0.05). The success rate of arterial puncture was significantly higher in the ST group (78.72% vs 58.33%, p=0.03); however, the incidence of complications was similar between the two groups (p>0.05). The time of the puncture procedure was significantly lower (9.56±5.24 vs 12.15±6.87 min), and the comfort score of the patient (5.49±1.72 vs 4.71±1.57) was higher in the ST group than in the CT group (p<0.05). At the end of the assessment, the learning time for angiography (3.65±0.64 vs 4.07±0.77 months) and the complete procedure time (33.81±10.11 vs 41.32±12.56 min) were lower in the ST group than in the CT group (p<0.01). The fluo time for angiography (489.33±237.13 vs 631.47±243.65 s) and the cumulative air kerma (401.30±149.06 vs 461.16±134.14 mGy) were significantly decreased in ST group (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The application of a vascular simulation system can significantly improve the clinical performance of residents and reduce the radiation damage from a single intervention procedure in patients.