Vygon supports trial to improve clinical skills training for undergraduates
A controlled trial examining the benefit of unsupervised, video-enhanced feedback for medical students has taken place – thanks to support from Vygon (UK) Ltd
The randomised trial involved nearly 100 students practising intravenous cannulation and was led by Craig Nesbitt, surgical registrar at Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s Freeman Hospital, and a vascular surgery speciality trainee within the Northern Deanery.
Nesbitt said: “In the recent trials we assessed the role of video-assisted feedback for undergraduates acquiring the skill of intravenous cannulation.
“We chose a clinical skill that can be easily standardised and is a core skill requirement of all doctors. It’s also a technique that worries a lot of junior doctors, so we believe it will be of great practical use. The trials were carried out in close liaison with those working within the clinical skills department at Newcastle University.
“The trials ran smoothly and data analysis is now taking place. Early feedback from the group was that video-assisted feedback is again going to show a positive impact on candidates. We are already making plans to investigate a feasible way of integrating such feedback routinely into clinical skills training of junior doctors.”
The intravenous cannulation trial took place over four days and experts are now analysing the data of nearly 600 videos, a process likely to take between three and six months. Preliminary reports will be available in mid-July. A formal report is due in September and a manuscript will be submitted for publication in an appropriate educational medical journal later this year.
Vygon, a leading supplier of medical supplies, donated £200 worth of cannulas for the trial and £100 towards the cost of staging the project, which was self-funded.
The trial follows a successful pilot project in 2012 involving 32 candidates, which showed that unsupervised video feedback enhanced their subsequent performance in basic suturing skills. A paper detailing the pilot and its findings was published in Journal of Surgical Education and can be found via PubMed.
Nesbitt said: “We are very grateful to Vygon for both donating the equipment and providing some financial support. These trials could bring a very beneficial change in clinical skills training for medical students. No other funds are available for this sort of trial it is entirely self-funded, so third party support like this was much appreciated.”
In the latest trial, Nesbitt and his team investigated the same principle – the benefits of video-assisted feedback supervised by experts with unsupervised videos.
“The benefits are two-fold,” he said “The students receive unsupervised feedback that enhances and improves their training and skills, without impacting on busy skills staff. It will also greatly improve the type and effectiveness of feedback the students receive, an area that is an issue nationally for students.”
Luke Rawlinson, Vygon’s business development manager for intravenous accessories, added: “When we were approached by the Northern Deanery and learned of the value of the new trial we were willing to donate the equipment and give some financial support. As with new products, any new medical practice or procedure has to be trialled and proven. If successful this trial will improve the training and development of young doctors for years to come.”
Vygon (UK) Ltd
Vygon is dedicated to the supply of single-use medical and surgical products. The company is a leading provider of intravenous access devices to the NHS. Brand names include; Multicath, Lifecath, Leadercath, Bionector, Biovalve and MIC. Vygon (UK) Ltd is part of the The Vygon Group of Companies which have supplied the healthcare profession for over 40 years. The Vygon Group is a global manufacturer of single-use medical and surgical products. Internationally it designs, manufactures and markets more than 100 million products in 110 countries, all in accordance with ISO 9001 and EN 46001 standards.
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