Audit report: Use of an innovative online simulation tool as an aid in basic skill training for beginner level sonography trainees.
Date
2017
Authors
Maranna, S.
Editors
Advisors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Type:
Conference paper
Citation
Abstracts from the Australasian Association of Educators in Medical Radiation Science: Evolving educational technologies, 2017, pp.1-1
Statement of Responsibility
Conference Name
Australasian Association of Educators in Medical Radiation Science (28 Mar 2017 - 30 Mar 2017 : Curtin University)
Abstract
Background: Sonographer training in Australia is shared between accredited degree providers and clinical training. The course that I deliver is mostly comprised of beginner level sonographer trainees who are in the initial stages of clinical placement or yet to gain one. An innovative online simulation tool called “SIMTICS” is being trialled to give an initial “heads-up” for students who have not yet gained a training placement. The aim of this audit is to assess the extent of use of SIMTICS in aiding with initial basic skill training in the cohort of students mentioned above.
Methods: The audit population comprises of students who are yet to gain a clinical placement or are less than 2 months into their clinical training. Both concurrent [via feedback questionnaire] and retrospective data [via SIMTICS logged data] was collected by the author. Formal feedback was sought from 23 students in SP5-2015. Logged data was collected from SP2 and SP5 2016.
Results: 19 students provided feedback via the questionnaire. All of the 19 students stated that navigation around the software was easy and none of them had used an online simulation tool before. Overall, the students have benefitted from the text and videos involved but inconsistent results have been seen in terms of the actual simulation practice and test. Logged data showed that students at varying levels of training were using SIMTICS to aid in their study beyond the compulsory assessment schedule.
Action plan: Student feedback at the end of each semester was relayed back to the SIMTICS team which has led to minor improvements in the duration and we were informed that work is in progress to make the simulation component more user-friendly