Abstract
BACKGROUND: Simulation training may improve patient safety, decrease trainer and trainee anxiety, and reduce the number of cases needed for competency. Complications associated with dilation and evacuation (D&E) have been directly related to provider skill level, yet no low-fidelity model has been formally described or evaluated in the literature for second-trimester D&E training. OBJECTIVE: We report physicians' assessments of the realism of 3 D&E models to establish a composite training model. METHODS: We surveyed experienced providers at 2 national conferences to evaluate 3 D&E models and rate each model's components on a Likert scale. RESULTS: Fifty-five obstetrics-gynecology and family medicine physicians completed the survey. Most respondents rated 4 components of 1 model as somewhat realistic or very realistic. The components rated highest were the fetal parts (82% [45 of 55]) and placenta (60% [30 of 50]). This model was rated as more likely to be used in training by 80% (43 of 54) of participants than the 2 other models, as rated by 28% (15 of 54) and 9% (5 of 54) of participants. CONCLUSIONS: A model made from a plastic bottle containing a stuffed fabric form with detachable parts has tactile similarity to a D&E procedure and should be further developed for testing and training.