Simulation-based training improves endoscopy execution

(HealthDay)—Simulation-based training (SBT) improves clinicians' performance of gastrointestinal endoscopy in both test settings and clinical practice, according to research published in the October issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Siddharth Singh, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and colleagues conducted a systematic literature search to identify original studies that evaluated SBT in gastrointestinal endoscopy compared to no intervention or alternative instructional approaches. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.

Based on 39 articles (enrolling 1,181 participants), the researchers found that compared to no intervention (32 studies), SBT significantly improved endoscopic process skills in a test setting (pooled effect size [ES], 0.79; 22 studies), process behaviors in clinical practice (ES, 0.49; eight studies), time to procedure completion in both a test setting (ES, 0.79; 16 studies), and clinical practice (ES, 0.75; five studies), and patient outcomes (procedural completion and risk of major complications; ES, 0.45; 10 studies). The comparative effectiveness of different SBT approaches was evaluated in five studies, which provided inconclusive evidence regarding feedback and simulation modalities.

"Simulation-based education in gastrointestinal endoscopy is associated with improved performance in a test setting and in clinical practice, and improved patient outcomes compared with no intervention," the authors write. "Comparative effectiveness studies of different simulation modalities are limited."

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