Clinical examination simulation: getting to real.

Verschuren and Hartog's six-stage methodology for design-oriented research is a process that is ideally suited to the development of artifacts that meet a desired outcome. We discuss the methodology and its relevance to simulation development for establishing a wide variety of realistic clinical breast examination models that can be used for assessment.

Are commercially available simulators durable enough for classroom use?

Our efforts show that commercially available simulators can be modified to affect realism and durability.

Toward a simulation and assessment method for the practice of camera-guided rigid bronchoscopy.

We have developed a way to measure performance during a camera-guided rigid bronchoscopy using manikin-based simulation. In an effort to measure contact pressures within the airway during a rigid bronchoscopy, we instrumented pressure sensors in a commercially available bronchoscopy task trainer. Participants were divided into two groups based on self-reported levels of expertise: novice (none to minimal experience in rigid bronchoscopy) and experts (moderate to extensive experience). There was no significant difference between experts and novices in the time taken to complete the rigid bronchoscopy. However, novices touched a greater number of areas than experts, showing that novices induce a higher number of unnecessary soft-tissue contact compared to experts. Moreover, our results show that experts exert significantly less soft tissue pressure compared to novices.