A Randomized Cross-Over Trial Focused on Breast Core Needle Biopsy Skill Acquisition and Safety Using High Fidelity Versus Low Fidelity Simulation Models in Rwanda

Objective Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in low and middle-income countries. Growing the number of health care personnel trained in diagnostic procedures like breast core needle biopsy (BCNB) is critical. We developed a BCNB simulation-training course that evaluated skill acquisition, confidence, and safety, comparing low-cost low fidelity (LF) models to expensive high fidelity (HF) models. Design A single-center randomized education crossover trial was implemented. Participants were randomized to HF or LF groups. A preintervention baseline exam followed by lectures and training sessions with a HF or LF model was implemented. A postintervention simulation exam was conducted, and participants crossed over to the other simulation model. Setting The study was implemented at the University Teaching Hospital, Kigali (CHUK) in Rwanda, Africa from October 2014 to March 2015. Participants Residents training in surgery or obstetrics and gynecology participated in a 1-day BCNB training course. Results A total of 36 residents were analyzed, 19 in the HF arm and 17 in the LF arm. Mean difference in exam scores for HF and LF groups in the baseline exam (exam 1) (0.067, p = 0.94, standard error [SE] of 1.57) postintervention exam (exam 2) (1.85, SE 1.46, p = 0.33), and the crossover exam (exam 3) (4.39, SE = 1.90, p = 0.11) were not significantly different between HF and LF. Overall exam scores improved from pre- to postintervention. Conclusions Our results indicate that mean difference in exams scores were not significantly different between residents trained with HF versus LF models. In resources poor areas—LF models can be utilized as effective teaching tools for skill acquisition for diagnostic surgical procedures.