Table 1.
The performance of the novices including the first postgraduate year (PGY-1) residents and undergraduate year (UGY) students, and PGY-3 emergency medicine residents in thoracocentesis
| Variable |
Novices (n = 36) |
PGY†-3 EM† residents (n = 12) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immediate assessment using a low-fidelity phantom* | |||
| Visualization of pleura, lung, and effusion | 4 (3–4)‡ | ||
| Visualization of needle | 5 (5) | ||
| Puncture and fluid aspiration | 4 (3–4.5)§ | ||
| Needle steadiness during aspiration | 5 (4–5)a | ||
| Total score | 17 (16–18)b | ||
| Global rating | 3.5 (3–4)c | - | |
| Puncture attempt | 1 (1–2) | ||
| Puncture time (sec) | 57 (41–122)d | - | |
| 3-month assessment using a high-fidelity phantom* | |||
| Visualization of pleura, lung, and effusion | 5 (3–5)‡ | 5 (5) | 0.164 |
| Visualization of needle | 5 (5) | 5 (5) | 0.382 |
| Puncture and fluid aspiration | 5 (4–5)§ | 5 (5) | 0.562 |
| Needle steadiness during aspiration | 5 (5)a | 5 (5) | 0.136 |
| Total score | 20 (16–20)b | 20 (20) | 0.177 |
| Global rating* | 5 (4–5)c | 5 (5) | 0.105 |
| Puncture attempt | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 1.000 |
| Puncture time (sec)* | 13 (9.5–30.5)d | 14 (10–20) | 0.232 |
*presented with median and interquartile ranges
†PGY Postgraduate year, EM Emergency medicine
‡p = 0.028
§p = 0.008
ap = 0.046
bp = 0.007
cp = 0.0005
dp < 0.0001