TEE Training for Anaesthesiologists

The Ideal Sequence of Didactic Lectures and Simulation in Teaching Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) Among Anaesthesiologists

This study aims to find out the best sequence of teaching and learning events (i.e. first lecture and then simulated training or first simulated training and then lecture) in the acquisition of knowledge on Transoesophageal Echocardiography among trainee and specialist anaesthesiologists.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cardiac
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Sequence of teaching (Lecture first followed by Simulation); Other: Sequence of teaching (Simulation first followed by Lecture)

Detailed Description

Basic Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) is an essential skill in the armamentarium of an anaesthesiologist. Currently, majority of the TEE teaching is being done in the form of didactic lectures with only a few teaching centres offering simulation. TEE skill acquisition includes both technical and cognitive skills. Most of the studies done in TEE teaching have concluded that TEE simulation is an essential part of TEE skill training. The study team wanted to find out what is the best sequence of teaching to achieve the maximum skill acquisition in TEE.

In National University Hospital, Singapore, the Cardiac subdivision of anaesthesia specialists are accredited in TEE (American or European exams) and perform independent decision making in cardiac surgical theatres while the surgery is on-goingto facilitate dynamic decision making such as adequacy of valve repair, global LV function and emerging complications if any. The study team realised that TEE skills are also required for decisions beyond the cardiac surgical theaters where on the spot critical decisions making is required eg: in polytrauma and sudden unexplained hypotension or hypoxia in non-cardiac or ICU patients.

There are existing induction modules and prior teaching avenues in the department of anaesthesia such as the Cardiac Anaesthesia Simulation Training (CAST) module targeted at junior trainee's level. With initiative to equip every practicing anaesthesiologist with the vital skill of TEE image acquisition, the department of anaesthesia is launching a teaching program that is an in house training session. The study team aims to understand through this study the ideal sequence of teaching intervention to facilitate optimal learning and retention.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 43
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Singapore
  • Singapore, Singapore, 119074
    • National University Health System

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• All anaesthesia doctors in Singapore with no prior experience in TEE.

Exclusion Criteria:

• All anaesthesia doctors in Singapore with prior experience in TEE.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Lecture followed by Simulation; Subjects will undergo the lecture on TEE first followed by the simulation session.	Other: Sequence of teaching (Lecture first followed by Simulation); Sequence of teaching (whether lecture or simulation session first) can help to achieve the maximum skill acquisition in TEE.
Other: Simulation followed by Lecture; Subjects will undergo the TEE simulation first followed by the lecture.	Other: Sequence of teaching (Simulation first followed by Lecture); Sequence of teaching (whether lecture or simulation session first) can help to achieve the maximum skill acquisition in TEE.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knowledge and skill increment between both groups	After the end of both lecture and simulation session, participants will be asked to demonstrate skill of acquisition of 11 basic views on TEE simulator within stipulated time, and will be scored by 2 independent raters.	Within an hour of completion of both lecture and simulation sessions.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Demographic variations in knowledge and skill acquisition	Identify and compare whether there are demographic variations in knowledge and skill acquisition in TEE among anaesthesiologists within each sequence of teaching and learning (i.e. lecture followed by simulation training and simulation training followed by lecture). This will be done through the administration of 30-question MCQ relating to TEE safety, probe manipulation and basic views in TEE, and a technical skill test.	Within an hour of completion of both lecture and simulation sessions.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National University, Singapore
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Swapna Thampi, National University Health System

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 22, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 17, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): November 17, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 15, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): July 18, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 18, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 17, 2019
• Last Verified: July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Learning; Transoesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)
• Other Study ID Numbers: NUS IRB S-17-347

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No