gms | German Medical Science

Many veterinary schools teach basic diagnostic skills using live dogs. The purpose of this study was to validate a multi-purpose manikin for teaching lymph node aspiration (FNA), venipuncture, cephalic venous catheterization, and cystocentesis.

Manikins with replaceable lymph nodes, venous systems and urinary bladders were developed. Undergraduate students were prospectively enrolled and stratified by veterinary experience prior to randomization to two groups (live animal or manikin). Groups were trained in FNA, cephalic and jugular venipuncture, intravenous catheterization, and cystocentesis over 5 weeks. Training included a written description of the technique, a training video, and a hands-on laboratory. The next week, participants were scored on performance of the previous week’s skill on a live animal using a standardized rubric by reviewers blinded to group. Six weeks later, assessment was repeated for all skills. Scores were compared between groups and timepoints by repeated-measures ANOVA. P<0.05 was significant. Table 1 [Tab. 1]

Twenty-six subjects were enrolled. There were no significant differences in scores for any of the skills between the groups immediately following or 6 weeks after training (see table for median scores).

Initial proficiency and short-term retention of clinical skills do not differ for students trained using a manikin versus a live dog. Therefore manikins are a viable training method to decrease animal use.