Long-term retention of central venous catheter insertion skills after simulation-based mastery learning.

Acad Med. 2010 Oct;85(10 Suppl):S9-12.

20881713

Barsuk JH, Cohen ER, McGaghie WC, Wayne DB.
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of HospitalMedicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. jbarsuk@nmh.org


BACKGROUND: Simulation-based mastery learning (SBML) of central venous catheter(CVC) insertion improves trainee skill and patient care. How long skills areretained is unknown.

METHOD: This is a prospective cohort study. Subjects completed SBML and wererequired to meet or exceed a minimum passing score (MPS) for CVC insertion on aposttest. Skills were retested 6 and 12 months later and compared with posttestresults to assess skill retention.

RESULTS: Forty-nine of 61 (80.3%) subjects completed follow-up testing. Although performance declined from posttest where 100% met the MPS for CVC insertion,82.4% to 87.1% of trainees passed the exam and maintained their high performance up to one year after training.

CONCLUSIONS: Skills acquired from SBML were substantially retained during oneyear. Individual performance cannot be predicted, so programs should use periodictesting and refresher training to ensure competence.PMID: 20881713 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]