Development, implementation, and results of a simulation-based hands-on brachytherapy workshop for medical students

Purpose The new Medical Licensing Regulations 2025 ( Ärztliche Approbationsordnung , ÄApprO) require the development of competence-oriented teaching formats. In addition, there is a great need for high-quality teaching in the field of radiation oncology, which manifests itself already during medical...

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Published in:	Strahlentherapie und Onkologie Vol. 199; no. 4; pp. 370 - 378
Main Authors:	Mäurer, Matthias A., Drozdz, Sonia, Ehrenpfordt, Juliet, Schwedas, Michael, Friedlein, Melissa, Hille, Nadine, Riede, Cora, Schrott, Steffen, Graf, Maximilian, Wurschi, Georg, Kamp, Marcel A., Wittig, Andrea, Knippen, Stefan
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-04-2023 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Atmospheric models Brachytherapy - methods Breast - radiation effects Breast cancer Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy Breast Neoplasms - surgery Catheters Computed tomography Education Female Humans Implantation Learning Likert scale Mastectomy, Segmental - methods Medical education Medical students Medicine Medicine & Public Health Oncology Original Original Article Questionnaires Radiation therapy Radiotherapy Simulation Skills Students Students, Medical Teaching Workshops Accelerated partial breast irradiation Medical education Simulation-based training Early-stage breast cancer Multicatheter brachytherapy
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Summary:	Purpose The new Medical Licensing Regulations 2025 ( Ärztliche Approbationsordnung , ÄApprO) require the development of competence-oriented teaching formats. In addition, there is a great need for high-quality teaching in the field of radiation oncology, which manifests itself already during medical school. For this reason, we developed a simulation-based, hands-on medical education format to teach competency in performing accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) with interstitial multicatheter brachytherapy for early breast cancer. In addition, we designed realistic breast models suitable for teaching both palpation of the female breast and implantation of brachytherapy catheters. Methods From June 2021 to July 2022, 70 medical students took part in the hands-on brachytherapy workshop. After a propaedeutic introduction, the participants simulated the implantation of single-lead catheters under supervision using the silicone-based breast models. Correct catheter placement was subsequently assessed by CT scans. Participants rated their skills before and after the workshop on a six-point Likert scale in a standardized questionnaire. Results Participants significantly improved their knowledge-based and practical skills on APBI in all items as assessed by a standardized questionnaire (mean sum score 42.4 before and 16.0 after the course, p  < 0.001). The majority of respondents fully agreed that the workshop increased their interest in brachytherapy (mean 1.15, standard deviation [SD] 0.40 on the six-point Likert scale). The silicone-based breast model was found to be suitable for achieving the previously defined learning objectives (1.19, SD 0.47). The learning atmosphere and didactic quality were rated particularly well (mean 1.07, SD 0.26 and 1.13, SD 0.3 on the six-point Likert scale). Conclusion The simulation-based medical education course for multicatheter brachytherapy can improve self-assessed technical competence. Residency programs should provide resources for this essential component of radiation oncology. This course is exemplary for the development of innovative practical and competence-based teaching formats to meet the current reforms in medical education.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0179-7158 1439-099X
DOI:	10.1007/s00066-023-02058-w