Objective: The main objective of this study was to use the principles of cognitive load theory to design a curriculum that incorporates a progressive part practice approach to teaching ultrasound-guided (USG) internal jugular catheterization (IJC) to novices. A secondary objective was to compare the technical proficiency of residents trained using this curriculum with the technical proficiency of residents trained with the current local standard of a single simulation session.
Methods: The experimental group included 16 residents who attended three 2-hour sessions of progressive part practice in a simulation lab. The control group included 46 residents who attended the current local standard of a single 2-hour simulation session just prior to their intensive care unit rotation. Technical proficiency was assessed using hand motion analysis and time to procedure completion.
Results: After three sessions, median scores for right hand motion (RHM) (34.5; [27.0-49.0]), left hand motion (LHM) (35.5; [20.0-45.0]), and total time (TT) (117.0 s; [82.7-140.0]) in the experimental group were significantly better than the control group (p<0.001). Results for eight experimental group residents who were assessed for retention at a later date revealed median scores for RHM (45.0; [32.0-58.0]), LHM (33.5; [20.0-63.0]), and TT (150.0 s; [103.0-399.6]), which were significantly better than those of the control group (p=0.01, p<0.01, and p=0.02, respectively).
Conclusion: These results support multiple sessions of progressive part practice in a simulation lab as an effective competency-based approach to teaching USG IJC in preparation for the clinical setting.
Keywords: cognitive load theory; competency; medical education; simulation.